The effects of 2% lignocaine gel on incidence of retching with the use of the laryngeal mask airway

Abstract

This randomised, single-blind study investigated the incidence of retching during emergence from general anaesthesia with a laryngeal mask airway in place. Eighty four patients, ASA grade 1 and 2, aged 15 to 60 years, were randomly divided into two groups. Each patient received fentanyl 1 microgram.kg-1 and propofol 2 mg.kg-1 for induction. A laryngeal mask airway was then inserted and the patient breathed spontaneously on a nitrous oxide-oxygen mixture with isoflurane. Lubafax gel was the lubricant in the control group and 2% lignocaine gel was used in the test group. The patients were allowed to wake up at the end of surgery with the laryngeal mask airway in place while a blinded observer observed for retching. The age, sex, weight and duration of surgery were similar in both groups. The test group had a significantly lower incidence of retching on emergence from general anaesthesia with the laryngeal mask airway in place (p < 0.005, Chi-squared test).