[Balloon catheter inflation with alkalinized lidocaine reduces post-operative laryngeal pain: a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial].

Introduction: post-operative laryngeal pain (POLP) is frequent and embarrassing. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of endotracheal tube balloon (ETB) inflation with alkalinized lidocaine in the prevention of the POLP. Methods: we conducted a prospective, single-center, double-blind, randomized study including patients undergoing general anesthesia with tracheal intubation (OTI) with an expected duration of less than 240 min. Patients were divided into two equivalent groups: lidocaine (GL) group: patients with ETB inflated with alkaline lidocaine and the control group (GT): patients whose ETB was inflated with normal saline solution. The primary endpoint was the incidence of POLP in the first 24 hours after surgery and the secondary endpoint was the incidence of cough, dysphonia and postoperative vomiting, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in the first 24 hours after surgery. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS software version 25. The difference was considered significant when p< 0.05. Results: the study included 60 patients randomized into 2 groups of 30 patients each. Both groups were comparable with regard to their demographic and anesthetic criteria. ETB inflation with alkalinized lidocaine reduced the incidence of POLP, cough, dysphonia and PONV. No cases of balloon rupture or lidocaine toxicity were reported. Conclusion: ETB inflation with alkaline lidocaine prevents POLP.