The efficacy of topical anaesthesia in flexible nasendoscopy: a double-blind randomised controlled trial

The routine use of topical anaesthesia during flexible nasendoscopy has bee n questioned, and the degree to which topical vasoconstrictors can affect p atient discomfort has yet to be elucidated. Patients' experiences with Lign ocaine(TM) and phenylephrine, Lignocaine(TM) alone, xylometazoline and no p reparation were compared. One hundred patients were recruited in this doubl e-blind, randomised control trial and put into these four groups. Each pati ent completed a visual analogue scoring chart to determine the severity of unpleasantness and other undesirable effects (pain, bad taste, burning, cho king, numbness and difficulty in swallowing). The results confirmed that va soconstriction is a major contributing factor towards reducing overall unpl easantness (P = 0.022), topical anaesthesia can produce a bad taste (P = 0. 022), and that none of the preparations have any effect on the pain during nasendoscopy. In conclusion, xylometazoline is recommended for nasendoscopy as it is effective and is significantly cheaper than the other preparation s. Not using any preparations leads to the experience of severe symptoms.