title: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate topical anaesthesia of the pharynx in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
abstract: Reduction of discomfort during diagnostic upper endoscopy may not be desired by patients if the medication has long-lasting and severe after-effects. The present study was designed to examine whether topical anaesthesia of the pharynx without concomitant sedation is of overall benefit to patients undergoing diagnostic upper endoscopy. Two hundred out-patients were randomized to receive in the form of a pharyngeal spray either 80-120 mg lidocaine or placebo. Patients assessed discomfort on a 100 mm visual analogue scale the day after examination. Patients undergoing endoscopy who received lidocaine spray experienced significantly less discomfort from the intubation (p = 0.0001), and discomfort induced by the rest of the examination was also reduced (p = 0.003). The outcome of the endoscopists' assessment was also in favour of lidocaine spray for intubation (p = 0.157) and ease of examination (p = 0.0014). The assessment of throat discomfort suffered by patients after endoscopy did not differ between the groups. A majority of patients, the same proportion in each group, stated they would prefer their next endoscopy to be performed with topical anaesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Lund University, Sweden.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hedenbro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ekelund
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jansson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindblom
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D008012:Lidocaine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010614:Pharynx
chemical_list: D008012:Lidocaine