Postoperative sore throat with 0.05% betamethasone gel and 2% lignocaine jelly used as a lubricant for ProSeal LMA (PLMA) insertion

Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a minor complication after general anaesthesia. Many agents have been used as lubricant to reduce the incidence of POST with variable efficacy. We conducted a study to compare the incidence of POST with 0.05% betamethasone gel and 2% lignocaine jelly as a lubricant for PLMA insertion in patients undergoing general anaesthesia.Sixty subjects were divided randomly into two groups. Patients in Group I (n = 30) had 2.5 ml of 0.05% of betamethasone gel while the Group II had 2.5 ml of 2% lignocaine jelly applied on the cuff of PLMA. After standard induction and insertion of PLMA cuff inflated to 60 cm of H2O and was maintained at the same throughout the surgery. In PACU, patients were inquired about sore throat at immediate and 24 h post operative period.POST was not observed in any of the patients of Group I. In group II 33% of the patients had 1st degree and 10% had 2nd degree of sore-throat in immediate post-operative period. After 24 h 16% patients had 1st degree sore-throat and 3% patients had 2nd degree of sore-throat in Group II patients. We conclude that lubricating cuff of PLMA with 0.05% of betamethasone gel is effective in reducing the incidence of POST.