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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Topical Airway Anesthesia for Awake-endoscopic Intubation Using the Spray-as-you-go Technique with High Oxygen Flow
Published on: January 13, 2017
Should lidocaine spray be used to ease nasogastric tube insertion? A double-blind, randomised controlled trial
Objective:
To investigate the efficacy and safety of lidocaine nasal spray before nasogastric tube insertion in an emergency department.
Design:
Double-blind, randomised controlled study.
Setting:
Emergency department of a major regional hospital in Hong Kong.
Patients:
A total of 206 adult patients, for whom nasogastric tube insertion was indicated.
Main Outcome Measures:
Primary outcome was discomfort gauged on a visual analogue scale, and Likert scale addressing difficulty of nasogastric tube insertion.
Results:
Compared with placebo spray use, lidocaine spray use was associated with less patient discomfort, and less difficulty in nasogastric tube insertion, both difference being statistically significant.
Conclusion:
Intranasal lidocaine spray before nasogastric tube insertion was safe and effective in reducing patient discomfort related to the procedure.
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