Cocaine or phenylephrine/lignocaine for nasal fibreoptic intubation?

In order to assess if a mixture of phenylephrine/lignocaine is as effective as cocaine for local analgesia and vasoconstriction during nasal fibreoptic intubation, 99 patients receiving topical nasal analgesia either with cocaine 10% or a mixture of phenylephrine 1% and lignocaine 4% were studied in a randomized double-blind investigation. After topical analgesia a flexible fibreoptic endoscope was advanced through a nostril. Larynx, glottis and trachea were endoscopically sprayed with lignocaine. Following induction of anaesthesia a nasotracheal tube was inserted fibreoptically. Pain intensity and amount of epistaxis during endoscopy were assessed. Blood pressure, heart rate and ECG-ST seg…