Background
Post-operative sore throat, cough, and hoarseness of voice constitute the major pharyngolaryngeal morbidities following General anesthesia with an endotracheal tube since its introduction. Pharyngolaryngeal morbidity has been reported following the use of supraglottic airway devices as well, with less frequency and severity. Lidocaine jelly, a time-tested lubricating agent with local anesthetic effects is effective in reducing the incidence and severity of pharyngolaryngeal morbidity. Steroid gel application over the endotracheal tube is an effective alternative. The aim of this work is to compare betamethasone gel and lidocaine jelly in their effects leading to the causation of pharyngolaryngeal morbidity when applied to I-gel, a commonly used supraglottic airway device in practice now.
Results
Both betamethasone gel and Lidocaine jelly were found to be equally efficacious in controlling pharyngolaryngeal morbidity following I-gel insertion. Though the incidence of post-operative sore throat (POST) was lower in the B group in the first 2 h (=0.895) and 6 h (=0.582) postoperatively, it was not significant. Similar results with cough (=0.362) and hoarseness of voice (=0.123) found after 2 h were also not statistically significant.
Conclusions
Both betamethasone gel and lidocaine jelly reduced the incidence and severity of pharyngolaryngeal morbidity following I-gel insertion and was found comparable.
Trial registration
. Registered 11th October 2017.