Anesth Pain Med.  2016 Jan;11(1):42-48. 10.17085/apm.2016.11.1.42.

The effect of combining lidocaine with dexamethasone for attenuating postoperative sore throat, cough, and hoarseness

• Cho CK
• Kim JE
• Yang HJ
• Sung TY
• Kwon HU
• Kang PS

• KMID: 2169070
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17085/apm.2016.11.1.42

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Despite the established efficacy of dexamethasone and lidocaine for preventing postoperative airway symptoms, no study has investigated the effects of dexamethasone plus lidocaine for attenuating postoperative airway symptoms. The purpose of this study was to explore whether combined dexamethasone and lidocaine are superior to dexamethasone alone in reducing postoperative sore throat, cough, and hoarseness for 24 h after tracheal extubation.
METHODS
In total, 70 female patients undergoing breast mass excision were randomized in a prospective, double-blinded manner into two groups: Group DL received intravenous dexamethasone (8 mg) plus lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg) 5 min before induction of anesthesia, and lidocaine was injected once more at the end of surgery. Group D received dexamethasone (8 mg) plus normal saline instead of lidocaine in the same manner as Group DL. We assessed the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat, cough, and hoarseness 1 and 24 h after extubation.
RESULTS
The incidence of sore throat for 24 h after tracheal extubation was significantly lower in Group DL than in Group D (62.9% vs. 85.7%, respectively; P = 0.029). The severity of sore throat and hoarseness for 24 h after extubation was lower in Group DL than in Group D (P < 0.05). The incidence and severity of cough did not differ between the two groups for 24 h after extubation.
CONCLUSIONS
Lidocaine combined with dexamethasone is more effectively reduces the incidence and severity of sore throat and severity of hoarseness for 24 h after extubation in patients who have undergone breast mass excision surgery.

Keyword

Cough; Dexamethasone; Hoarseness; Lidocaine; Pharyngitis

MeSH Terms

Airway Extubation
Anesthesia
Breast
Cough*
Dexamethasone*
Female
Hoarseness*
Humans
Incidence
Lidocaine*
Pharyngitis*
Prospective Studies
Dexamethasone
Lidocaine

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Flow diagram of study enrollment and randomization.

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  Fig. 2 Incidence of postoperative sore throat, cough, and hoarseness at 1 and 24 h after extubation. Data shown represent numbers of patients. *P < 0.05 between Groups D and DL.

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