Viscous lidocaine solution gargling versus lidocaine spray for pharyngeal anesthesia in unsedated esophagogastroduodenoscop

Abstract

Keeping biscous lidocaine solution in the hypopharynx and repeating gargling (group-A) has been used as pharyngeal anesthesia of esophagogastroduodenoscopy in our hospital for many years. Spraying lidocaine spray to the hypopharynx (group-B) is an option with lower risk of aspiration and less physical difficulty. Anesthetic effects should be compared in both methods. Subjects who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy were randomly assigned to either group-A or -B. A series of questionnaire survey was set before and after the examination, and the physical and mental stress was evaluated subjectively (i: discomfort during pharynx passage, ii: coughing during the examination, iii: anxiety about the next examination), and objectively. A univariate analysis of the evaluation about the stress caused by esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed no significant difference between group-A (71 cases) and group-B (70 cases). Group-B provided the equivalent anesthesia effect as group-A. It was considered that the physical and mental stress during esophagogastroduodenoscopy was greatly affected by the anxiety before the examination.