Comparative study between betamethasone gel and lignocaine jelly applied over the tracheal tube to reduce postoperative airway complications

Abstract

Background: Postoperative sore throat (POST), postextubation cough (PEC), and hoarseness of voice (HOV) are some of the common postoperative morbidities due to airway instrumentation. This study is aimed to compare the efficacy of 0.05% betamethasone gel to 2% lignocaine gel applied over the oro-endotracheal tube to reduce the incidence of POST, PEC, and HOV. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical study in patients scheduled for elective surgeries under general anesthesia. They were randomized into two groups of 30. In Group B (betamethasone), the endotracheal tube was lubricated from the distal end of the cuff using 2.5 ml of betamethasone gel, and in Group L, the endotracheal tube was lubricated with lignocaine jelly in the same way. Patients were examined for POST, PEC, and HOV at intervals of 1, 3, 8, and 24 h after extubation. Results: Significant differences were found at 8 and 24 h postextubation. The incidence of PEC were 30% versus 6.7 % (P=0.02) and 26.7% versus 3.3% (P=0.01) in favour to group B. The incidence of POST were 30% vs 3.3% (P=0.005) and 23.3% vs 0% (P=0.004) in group L vs group B, respectively. Similarly, the incidence of HOV were 20% vs 3.3% (P=0.04) and 13.3% vs 0% (P=0.03) in group B's favour. Conclusion: Patients who underwent general anesthesia using betamethasone gel 0.05% applied to endotracheal tube reported a lower incidence of POST, PEC, and HOV in comparison to those with the application of lignocaine 2% on the endotracheal tube.