DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjs.2026.v12i08.004

Pages: 658-665

Background: Emergence cough during extubation is a common airway complication after general anaesthesia and may contribute to adverse hemodynamic responses and postoperative morbidity, particularly in patients undergoing ENT surgery. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of intravenous lidocaine on emergence cough following elective ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery. Methods: This prospective comparative study was conducted at the Department of Anaesthesiology, MH Samorita Hospital and Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from February 2025 to January 2026. A total of 150 adult patients undergoing elective ENT surgery under general anaesthesia were equally allocated to the intravenous lidocaine and control groups. The effect of intravenous lidocaine on emergence cough and perioperative outcomes was evaluated using SPSS version 26.0, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The groups were comparable at baseline and intraoperatively (all p > 0.05). Intravenous lidocaine significantly reduced emergence cough (36.0% vs. 68.0%, p < 0.001) and postoperative sore throat (16.0% vs. 32.0%, p = 0.028), while providing better hemodynamic stability during extubation (all p < 0.001). Extubation time, postoperative recovery, and other complications were similar between the groups (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: Intravenous lidocaine is a safe and effective adjunct that reduces emergence cough, improves hemodynamic stability during extubation, and decreases postoperative sore throat without delaying postoperative recovery in patients undergoing elective ENT surgery.