A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized Study on the Use of a Topical Anesthetic, Vasoconstrictor, and Placebo During Transnasal Flexible Fiberoptic Endoscopy

The purpose of the present study was to compare patient comfort levels following administration of a topical anesthetic, vasoconstrictor, placebo, or nothing to the nasal mucosa prior to flexible fiberoptic transnasal endoscopy. Using a prospective, double-blind, randomized design, 152 consecutive patients were randomly assigned to receive a topical anesthetic (N=54), vasoconstrictor (N=50), or placebo (N=48). No significant differences were found among the three variables. An additional 50 consecutive patients had endoscopy performed without administration of any substance to the nares, and no significant differences were found among the four variables (N=202). It was concluded that speech-language pathologists can perform independent and comfortable transnasal endoscopy without administration of any substance to the nasal mucosa. Flexible fiberoptic endoscopy, however, should be performed by experienced clinicians with care taken to examine visually the patency of both nares for ease and comfort of scope insertion.

KEY WORDS: flexible fiberoptic endoscopy, topical anesthetic, transnasal, pharyngeal phase of swallowing, dysphagia

Submitted on January 9, 1997
Accepted on June 10, 1997

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