Viscous lidocaine solution versus lidocaine spray for pharyngeal local anesthesia in upper gastroesophageal endoscopy

Advantage of using local sedation during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) is still challenging. In the current study, the eff ect of lidocaine spray versus lidocaine viscous solution for pharyngeal local anesthesia during UGE has been compared: Th is is a randomized clinical trial conducted on 130 patients conducting UGE in 2013. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of viscous lidocaine solution (Group V) and lidocaine spray (Group S). Patients’ tolerance, satisfaction, pain/discomfort, and anxiety (based on 11-point numerical score scale) and ease of endoscopy were compared. Ease of procedure, patients’ tolerance, and patients’ satisfaction were not statistically diff erent between two groups (P > 0.05). Patients’ pain/discomfort and anxiety during endoscopy were signifi cantly diff erent between groups (P < 0.05). As a conclusion, there was not any diff erence between two groups except for pain, discomfort, and anxiety that was higher in those who administered spray that might be due to the method of usage.