THE EFFECTS OF 2-PERCENT LIGNOCAINE GEL ON INCIDENCE OF RETCHING WITHTHE USE OF THE LARYNGEAL MASK AIRWAY

This randomised, single-blind study investigated the incidence of retc hing during emergence from general anaesthesia with a laryngeal mask a irway in place. Eighty four patients, ASA grade 1 and 2, aged 15 to 60 years, were randomly divided into two groups. Each patient received f entanyl 1 mu g.kg(-1) and propofol 2mg.kg(-1) for induction. A larynge al mask airway was then inserted and the patient breathed spontaneousl y on a nitrous oxide-oxygen mixture with isoflurane. Lubafax gel was t he lubricant in the control group and 2% lignocaine gel was used in th e test group. The patients were allowed to wake up at the end of surge ry with the laryngeal mark airway in place while a blinded observer ob served for retching. The age, sex, weight and duration of surgery were similar in both groups. The test group had a significantly lower inci dence of retching on emergence from general anaesthesia with the laryn geal mask airway in place (p < 0.005, Chi-squared test).