Post Extubation Airway Conditions after Direct Laryngoscopic Biopsy: A Comparative Evaluation between Lignocaine...

Postextubation airway complications are one of the most undesired side effects of airway manipulation. Pharmacological and nonpharmacological measures have been utilized for minimizing the morbidity. Lignocaine lozenges, a new modality, used to reduce post-extubation airway complications is an area yet to be explored.

The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the effects of lignocaine nebulization versus lignocaine lozenges in decreasing immediate postextubation airway complications in patients presenting for direct laryngoscopic biopsy.

This randomized study was conducted at tertiary care teaching hospital in northern state of India.

A total of 90 patients, 40-70 years, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status Classes I, II, and III of either sex, posted for elective direct laryngoscopic biopsy, requiring general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation were included and randomly divided into groups (n = 30) to receive lignocaine nebulization (Group A), lignocaine lozenge (Group B), control (Group C). The patients were assessed for a cough after extubation after 5 min then every 10 min up to 30 min postextubation.

Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and continuous variables by using one-way Analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis test, respectively.

Comparison of a cough at various time intervals starting from extubation up to 30 min in post-extubation period was highly significant in between groups. Among Group A (lignocaine nebulization) 33% of patients had a decrease in the severity of a cough within the first 5 min; although among Group B (Lignocaine Lozenges), the decrease in the severity of a cough (40%) was more as compared to that of Group A. Similar decrease in the severity of a cough was observed through various time interval from 10 min to 30 min postextubation. After 30 min, 73% of patients in Group A and 76% of patients in Group B had an incidence of a decrease in the severity of cough.

Lignocaine Lozenges have been found to have a better result.