Effect of Intracuff Plain Lignocaine and Alkalinized Lignocaine for Prevention of Postoperative Sore Throat

Background: Emergence phenomena such as sore throat, coughing, hoarsness, etc.m are common following endotracheal tube extubation and various methods have been tried to reduce its incidence. Recently, there have been reports of using alkalinized intracuff lidocaine on ameoloration of emergence phenomenon.

Aims: The study had been undertaken to determine the effectiveness of intracuff alkalinized lignocaine on endotracheal tube induced emergence phenomenon.

Methods: The study was a prospective, double blinded, randomized, control one conducted in 90 adult patients of either sex, ASA I or II with Mallampati score 1, undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia with endotracheal tube, which were randomly allocated into three groups of 30 patients each to receive either intracuff air(C), plain lignocaine(PL) or alkalinized lignocaine(AL) respectively. Post-operative sore throat, hoarsness, dysphonia, haemodynamic changes, etc. were recorded for first 24 hours.

Results: The spontaneous ventilation and extubation time were prolonged in the AL group (P<0.001) as compared with the other two groups. The incidence of sore throat and other throat disorders were also significantly lesser in the AL group, even though PL group is better than C group.

Conclusion: Use of intracuff alkalinized lignocaine increased the endotracheal tube tolerance by reducing the incidence of emergence phenomena.