Intracuff buffered lidocaine versus saline or air—A comparative study for smooth extubation in patients with hyperactive airways undergoing eye surgery

Abstract

Background: Increased cough and restlessness during emergence from general anaesthesia in patients undergoing ophthalmologic surgical procedures might result in increased intraocular pressure, ruptured sutures and suprachoroidal haemorrhage, which can be detrimental to the outcome of surgery. In hyperactive airway patients, as the cough receptors are in the hypersensitised stage, the patients tend to cough more frequently and violently during extubation. Hence, in such patients, we sought to determine the benefits of filling the endotracheal tube cuff with either buffered lidocaine, saline or air, so as to prevent endotracheal tube-induced coughing during emergence from general anaesthesia.