Abstract PR223

Background & Objectives: Uncuffed endotracheal tubes (ETT) have historically been used in children under 8 for fear of airway mucosal injury. There have been studies on the use of intracuff lidocaine to reduce this effect in adult population. Objective: To study the effect of intracuff alkalinized lidocaine(2%) in reducing airway morbidity compared to intracuff saline in children. Materials & Methods: This prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu between January 2014 and January 2015 and involved fifty ASA I & II patients randomly divided into two groups. All cases were done under general anesthesia. Patients with respiratory tract infection, asthma, or allergy to lidocaine were excluded. In twenty-five patients 0.9% saline was used to inflate the ETT cuff and in the remaining patients, alkalinized lidocaine (2%) 2ml was used. The cuff pressure was maintained between 20-22mmHg. Postoperative airway morbidities were compared between the two groups. The data obtained was analysed using Prism 6 statistical software. Results: Fifty patients were recruited and completed the study in each group. There was no significant difference between the groups in their demographic data, duration of surgery, intubation, or volume of inflating the ETT. There was significant reduction in the incidence of cough in the alkalinized lidocaine group, n=15 (30%) compared to the air group, n=30 (60%). The incidence of sore throat recorded at the recovery room was 16% in the alkalinized lidocaine group and 42% in the control group.(P<0.05) Table 2. After 24 hours sore throat occurred in 14 patients (28%), and 13 patients (26%) in the saline, and alkalinized lidocaine groups respectively. (P>0.05). Conclusion: Alkalinized intracuff lidocaine is effective in reducing the incidence of cough and sore throat related to intubation after general anesthesia in children References: 1. Pediatric Airway Management. In: Gregory GA, Andropoulos DB, editors. Gregory’s Pediatric Anesthesia. 5th ed. Churchill Livingstone; New York: 2010.pp. 2. Rao M, Snigdha, Taggu A, Kumar V. Instillation of 4% lidocaine versus air in the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff to evaluate post intubation morbidity-a randomized double blind study. Journal of Anesthesiology and Clinical Science 2013:2049-9752 3. Murat I. Cuffed tubes in children: a 3-year experience in a single institution. Paediatr Anaesth. 2001;11((6)):748–749. 4.Estebe JP, Gentili M, Le Corre P, Dollo G, Chevanne F, Ecoffey C: Alkalinization of intra cuff lidocaine: Efficacy and Safety. Anesth Analg 2005, 101:1536–41. Disclosure of Interest: None declared