title: Influence of intranasal epinephrine and lidocaine spray on olfactory function tests in healthy human subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although topical decongestants and anesthetics are widely used in preparation for nasal endoscopy, no controlled trials have evaluated the effects of these agents on olfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized double-blinded controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors recruited 72 healthy subjects and randomly assigned them to 1 of 4 groups (control, phenylephrine group, lidocaine group, and both agents). After baseline tests with the Korean version of Sniffin' Stick Test II (KVSS II), topical agents were applied to each nostril. Fifteen minutes later, repeat tests were carried out. Pre- and postspray results of the olfactory tests were compared, and the differences among groups were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ± SD prespray KVSS II score of the study group was 30.2 ± 3.8, and there were no statistically significant differences among the study groups (P = .353). Mean ± SD pre- and postspray KVSS II scores were 29.0 ± 3.5 and 30.7 ± 3.7 (P = .128) in the control group, 30.6 ± 3.6 and 31.7 ± 3.3 (P = .262) in the phenylephrine group, and 31.4 ± 3.6 and 32.1 ± 3.1 (P = .557) in the lidocaine group, respectively. In the phenylephrine and epinephrine spray group, the mean ± SD pre- and postspray scores were 29.9 ± 4.4 and 31.3 ± 3.7 (P = .071), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neither topical intranasal phenylephrine nor lidocaine use affected the results of the olfactory test, even when the agents were used in combination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Korea. ent.jyg@gmail.com
authors.forename: Yong Gi
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Seung Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Young-Gyu
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Eun
authors.forename: Myung-Gu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D012016:Reference Values; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine; D004837:Epinephrine