Novel bronchofiberscopic catheter spray device allows effective anesthetic spray and sputum suctioning

Study objectives: To evaluate how serum lidocaine concentrations (SLC) rise when lidocaine is administered by a Bronchofiberscopic Catheter Spray Device (BCSD), and to demonstrate the effect on the aspiration speed of a substitute for sputum when a catheter spray remains in the channel of the bronchofiberscope (BF). Methods: This is a prospective randomized clinical study. After lidocaine ultrasonic nebulizer, the BF was inserted orally. During the procedure patients received 4% lidocaine by two methods. In Group 1, 11 patients received lidocaine by bronchofiberscopic (BF) injection. In Group 2, 15 patients received lidocaine by spraying from the circle divide 1.06 mm catheter through the BF channel. SLC were measured at 40min from onset of nebulization. Separately, we examined how effectively sputum was aspirated through the BF channel with a catheter. Results: Total lidocaine dose (TLD) is the total dose used for nebulization and for the BF injection or spray. The TLD for Groups 1 and 2 were 698.2+/-162.1 mg (mean+/-SD) and 498.7+/-103.8mg, respectively (P = 0.03). The SLC for Groups 1 and 2 were 1.28 +/- 0.72 and 1.48 +/- 0.70 mg/L, respectively (P = 0.49). Conclusions: Using BCSD allows easier in administration of lidocaine and is not associated with a significant increase in SLC in comparison with BF injection. Although sputum aspiration using the BF inserted with our catheter was somewhat slow, we did not feet inconvenient so much. Compared to the conventional method, using BCSD may be preferable for patients and bronchoscopists. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.