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Rapid oral anesthesia for awake intubation.
1Anesthesia and Operative Service, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6200.
Journal of Clinical Anesthesia
|March 1, 1992
Summary
Sodium benzonatate (Tessalon Perles) offers rapid and effective topical oral anesthesia for awake intubations. This study found benzonatate significantly reduced the time to achieve anesthesia compared to traditional methods, ensuring patient comfort.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Awake intubations require effective oropharyngeal anesthesia for patient comfort and procedural success.
- Current methods may have limitations in speed or efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of sodium benzonatate (Tessalon Perles) for topical oral anesthesia prior to awake intubations.
- To compare the onset of anesthesia with benzonatate versus standard nerve blocks.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, controlled, single-blind study involving 40 patients undergoing awake intubation.
- Patients received either topical benzonatate or superior laryngeal nerve blocks with lidocaine and benzocaine.
- Both groups received translaryngeal lidocaine, with some receiving nasal lidocaine jelly.
Main Results:
- The time to achieve oropharyngeal anesthesia was significantly shorter in the benzonatate group (55.1 seconds) compared to the control group (339 seconds) (p < 0.005).
- Patient response to intubation was similar between groups (90% no response, 10% minimal response).
- No significant adverse cardiovascular events were observed in either group.
Conclusions:
- Sodium benzonatate provides rapid and reliable oropharyngeal anesthesia for awake intubations.
- Effective airway anesthesia with benzonatate facilitates awake intubations with minimal patient discomfort.