• Constantinos Bourolias, Antonios Gkotsis, Anastasios Kontaxakis, and Panagiotis Tsoukarelis.
• Department of Otolaryngology, Naval Hospital of Crete, K. Palma 14, Chania, Crete, Greece. bourolias@altecnet.gr
• Am J Otolaryngol. 2010 Mar 1;31(2):114-6.

Statement Of ProblemThe aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lidocaine spray 10%, compared with tetracaine 2% solution, as a local anesthetic for patients undergoing transnasal fiber-optic laryngoscopy.Method Of StudyA prospective study was conducted on patients undergoing transnasal fiber-optic laryngoscopy. Microsurgical sponges were applied in each side of the nose for 10 minutes before laryngoscopy. Patients were randomly classified into group A and group B, in which tetracaine 2% solution and lidocaine spray 10% were used, respectively. Patients were asked to evaluate the severity of pain during the procedure by a visual analog scale. Patients data, pain score, and potential complications were placed in a database and statistically assessed.Main ResultsOur series consisted of 48 patients. Statistical analysis showed significant lower mean nasal discomfort score in favor of the tetracaine group (2.29 vs 3.04 [P < .001]). No tetracaine complications or side effects occurred.Principal ConclusionNeurosurgical sponge application of tetracaine 2% solution is an easy, safe, inexpensive, and effective analgesia for transnasal fiber-optic laryngoscopy.Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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