Effects of tetracaine spray on insertion of stomach tubes after orthognathic surgery

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effects of oropharyngeal topical anesthesia with tetracaine spray (0.1％) on the discomfort and success rate of insertion of stomach tube after orthognathic surgery.Methods Totals of 80 patients treated with bimaxillary orthognathic surgery were randomly assigned into control group (n =40) and test group (n =40).Stomach tubes were inserted into stomachs of the patients with a semirecumbent position through nasal at the day after surgery.Traditional methods of inserting stomach tubes were applied in control group,while patients in test group were given topical anesthesia with 0.1％ tetracaine spray to oropharyngeal before stomach tubes inserted.The operating time and primary success rate of tube insertion were recorded.Intubation pain or discomfort was observed.Results The operating time of test group was significantly shorter than that of control group (2.7 ± 0.8 min vs 4.2 ± 1.1 min,t =2.892,P ＜ 0.01).Primary success rate of intubation of test group was significantly higher than that of control group (97.5％ vs 85％,x2 =3.914,P ＜0.05).There was less pain or discomfort in the intubation process in test group (Z =2.660,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Stomach tube insertion with 0.1％ tetracaine spray topical anesthesia can alleviate pain,improve primary success rate of stomach tube insertion. Key words: Tetracaine spray ; Topical anesthesia; Gastrogavage ; Orthognathic surgery