Use of a dental roll coated with flavored viscous lidocaine for nasal mucosal surgery

BACKGROUND. Nasal mucosal surgery may be unpleasant for patients for a variety of reasons. Injection of local anesthetic into this region may be exquisitely tender, and patients may complain of the taste or passage of anesthetic or other secretions down the nasopharynx. In addition the odor of electrocautery may also be disturbing to some patients. OBJECTIVE. The objective was to decrease patient discomfort during extensive nasal surgery. METHODS. A dental roll coated with flavored viscous lidocaine may be placed in the nasal cavity 5 min before injecting local anesthetic and left in place during extensive nasal surgery. Flavored lidocaine may also be simply applied to the mucosal surface and will help anesthetize the area as well as mask the odor of electocautery. RESULTS. We propose that use of a lidocaine-coated dental roll during extensive nasal surgery will reduce the pain of subsequent local anesthetic injections, disguise the taste of anesthetic and other secretions that may drain down the nasopharynx, and help mask the odor of electrocautery. CONCLUSION. The use of a dental roll coated with flavored viscous lidocaine appears to be a simple way to improve patient comfort during extensive nasal surgery. This form of lidocaine may also be used to improve patient comfort during steel and laser surgery on the oral and nasal mucosas as well as placement of intraoral nerve blocks. Viscous lidocaine can be compounded with flavor at a pharmacy or in the office.