Efficacy of intravenous lidocaine in prevention of post extubation laryngospasm in children undergoing cleft palate surgeries

A one-year randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted to study the effectiveness of intravenous lidocaine in the prevention of post extubation laryngospasm in children, following cleft palate surgeries. Children of age three months to six years were randomly assigned into two groups. Group P placebo (saline) and Group L (Lidocaine), 1.5 mg/kg. A sample size of 74 with n = 37 in each group was selected. The anaesthetic procedure was standardized. At the end of the procedure, three minutes after reversal, the study drug, that is, intravenous lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg) or placebo (saline) was administered and two minutes later the child was extubated. Following extubation for 10 minutes, the haemodynamic parameters, that is, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, severity of coughing, and laryngospasm were noted. The total reduction of laryngospasm and coughing was 29.9% and 18.92% with IV lidocaine. Significant alterations in haemodynamics and oxygen saturation were noted for 10 minutes, following extubation. Hence, intravenous lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg was effective in the prevention of post extubation laryngospasm in children undergoing cleft palate surgeries.