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Article Type

Article

Abstract

Background: The commonest method to secure the airway in general anesthesia is the use of cuffed Endotracheal Tube (ETT). However, the recovery is often complicated by ETT-induced airway and circulatory reflexes, which can lead to potentially dangerous complications. Many studies and researches have been focused on the prevention of these emergence phenomena (EP); nevertheless, the problem is still far from a final solution. Aim: To compare the efficacy of Lidocaine gel vs. Betamethasone gel in attenuating the ETT-induced EP. Patients and methods: 51 patients chosen for elective intermediate average duration operations and classified in class 1 & 2 of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) were randomly assigned to receive Betamethasone gel, Lidocaine gel, or normal saline (NS) as a lubricant for the endotracheal tube. Coughing and/or bucking at the emergence of anesthesia were evaluated as either present or not by a blinded observer. The patients were also monitored for the development of hoarseness of voice and laryngeal spasm, along with vital signs during the recovery phase. They were observed for sore throat, hoarseness of voice after 1 hr, 6 hrs, and 12 hrs post-operatively. Results: The incidence of sore throat, hoarseness of voice, and cough was lowest in group B (Betamethasone) compared to group A (Lidocaine) and control group C (Normal saline). Conclusions: Applying Betamethasone and Lidocaine gel on the endotracheal tube is a simple and effective method of reducing the incidence of post-operative laryngeal spasm, sore throat, cough, and hoarseness of voice in patients under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation.

Keywords

Endotracheal tube, Lidocaine, Betamethasone, Extubation.

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