Nasal nitric oxide is not altered by topical anesthesia

This prospective study was undertaken to determine whether topical nasal an esthetic agents affect nasal nitric oxide (NO) output in healthy adults. Se ven volunteers (aged: 29-56 (40.6 +/- 10.7) years, Six male), were recruite d. A topical anesthetic (4% lidocaine or 0.5% tetracaine) was sprayed into the subject's right nostril while the left nostril sewed as a control. Unil ateral nasal NO and nasal volume were measured before administration of the anesthetic and at 15 and 30 minutes after the administration. The mean (+/ -SD) unilateral nasal NO output was 307 +/- 45.9 nL/minute from the right n ostril (exposure side) before the topical application of lidocaine. At 30 m inutes after topical application (n = 6), it was 295.5 +/- 41.5 in the righ t nostril and 297.5 +/- 39.8 in the left (control side). In the tetracaine group (n = 7), the mean (+/-SD) unilateral nasal NO output was 302 +/- 53.3 before the administration and 307 +/- 39.7 at 30 minutes after the adminis tration in the right nostril. The mean NO output in the left nostril at 30 minutes after the administration was 297.7 +/- 40.75. In neither group was there any significant difference in nasal NO output between either the pre- and postlocal anesthetic application on the exposure side (Group 1, P = 0. 76; group 2, P = 0.41) or the two nostrils after topical anesthesia applica tion (group I, P = 0.83; group 2, P = 0.62). Topical anesthesia with either lidocaine or tetracaine does not alter nasal NO output. NO measurement sho uld not be affected in circumstances that require topical anesthesia of the nasal cavity.