Clinical otolaryngology and allied sciences
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Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci · Dec 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe use of topical nasal anaesthesia before flexible nasendoscopy: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing cophenylcaine with placebo.
The objective was to evaluate the necessity to use topical nasal anaesthesia before flexible nasendoscopy and to compare its use with placebo. The study was carried out using a double-blind randomized controlled trial, with three treatment arms, at the out-patient department at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. The participants were 90 patients attending the otolaryngology out-patient department who required flexible nasendoscopy as part of their assessment. ⋯ Overall unpleasantness scores were 2.0 for cophenylcaine, 1.9 for no spray and 2.4 for placebo. On a visual analogue scale of 0-10, none of these mean main outcome measures reached levels of significance. It was concluded that the use of cophenylcaine spray before flexible nasendoscopy does not give significant advantages over the use of no nasal preparation.