Ma. Asante et Tc. Northfield, VARIATION IN TASTE OF TOPICAL LIGNOCAINE ANESTHESIA FOR GASTROSCOPY, Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 12(7), 1998, pp. 685-686
Aim: To study the distribution and determinants of taste variation for
lignocaine spray (Xylocaine; Astra Pharmaceuticals, King's Langley, U
K). Methods: Sixty-nine patients (male:female 49:20, mean age 48.5 yea
rs) attending for open access upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were st
udied. Taste perceived after applying 4 doses (40 mg) of lignocaine sp
ray to the ore-pharynx was recorded prior to endoscopy. Results: 37/69
(54%, 95% CI: 41-66%) perceived the taste of the lignocaine spray as
bitter, whilst 24/69 (35%, 95% CI: 24-47%) and 6/69 (9%, 95% CI: 3-18%
) perceived the taste as either fruity/sweet or tasteless. The variati
on in taste did not correlate with either demographic features or H. p
ylori infection, but duodenal ulceration was slightly more common amon
gst bitter tasters. Conclusion: The taste of lignocaine is not uniform
, but the basis of this variability is uncertain.