European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: Endotracheal intubation is a common procedure during general anesthesia, often associated with post-operative complications such as sore throat and emergence cough. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of three intra-cuff solutions—air, normal saline, and 2% lignocaine—in mitigating these complications and their impact on intubation attempts and hemodynamic parameters. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted involving 114 patients undergoing elective surgeries. Participants were divided into three groups based on the intra-cuff solution used. Intubation attempts, post-operative sore throat, emergence cough, and physiological parameters were assessed and statistically analysed. Results: The use of 2% lignocaine significantly reduced the number of intubation attempts (p < 0.001*) compared to air and normal saline. Additionally, lignocaine was associated with a significantly lower incidence of post-operative sore throat (p = 0.011*) and emergence cough (p = 0.010*) compared to the other solutions. However, there were no significant differences in hemodynamic parameters between the groups. Conclusion: This study suggests that 2% lignocaine may be a preferable intra-cuff solution for endotracheal intubation, as it reduces intubation attempts and the incidence of post-operative complications. Further research and clinical trials are needed to validate these findings and refine the selection criteria for intra-cuff solutions.