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