| An endoscopic procedure that examines the upper gastrointestinal tract but often caused severe discomfort for many
patients due to gag reflexes, was examined as a pharyngeal anesthetic using lidocaine lozenges and viscous oral solutions.
A blinded, randomized, controlled study of 110 adult patients. Patients were randomized either to receive lidocaine
lozenges or lidocaine viscous oral solution 2%, either with 100 mg or 5 mL. In case of need, midazolam was injected
intravenously. During UGE, lidocaine lozenges and lidocaine oral solution were tested to determine which reduced patient
discomfort, including gag reflexes. Results: Sixty-four percent of patients in the lozenge group report an acceptable gag
reflex, compared to only 33 percent in the oral solution group (P = 0.0072). A lozenge group of 69% evaluated UGE as
acceptable compared with a group of 39% evaluating it as acceptable (P <0.0092). In the lozenge group, 78% found the
taste of the lozenge to be good (P<0.0001), while 82% found the texture of the lozenge to be good (P<0.0001). It was
evaluated as tasty and have a good texture as well as reducing gag reflexes and reducing patient discomfort during UGE.
Patients were more accepting of UGE after taking the lozengeddd |
