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The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 24, 278-283, Copyright © 1977 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

ARTICLES

Local nerve block anesthesia for peroral endoscopy

TR DeMeester, DB Skinner, RH Evans and DW Benson

Local glossopharyngeal and superior laryngeal nerve block anesthesia for peroral endoscopy was performed on 500 patients (313 bronchoscopies, 162 esophagoscopies, 25 combined bronchoesophagoscopies). The technique allows easy insertion of rigid and flexible scopes or awake tracheal intubation of conscious patients. Glossopharyngeal nerve block causes temporary abolition of the gag reflex and loss of tactile sensation over the posterior third of the tongue and the lateral and posterior wall of the oropharynx and hypopharynx. Superior laryngeal nerve block results in loss of tactile sensation over the posterior surface of the epiglottis and the mucosa of the larynx and upper trachea. Ten of the 500 patients (2%) had an inadequate glossopharyngeal block, and 4 of the 313 patients who had a bronchoscopic examination had an inadequate superior laryngeal block. In the remaining patients, excellent anesthesia was obtained with good patient acceptance and minimal morbidity.