The use of topical nasal anaesthesia before flexible nasendoscopy: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing cophenylcaine with placebo

The objective was to evaluate the necessity to use topical nasal anaesthesia before flexible nasendoscopy and to compare its use with placebo. The study was carried out using a double‐blind randomized controlled trial, with three treatment arms, at the out‐patient department at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. The participants were 90 patients attending the otolaryngology out‐patient department who required flexible nasendoscopy as part of their assessment. Each participant was randomized to one of three groups. Group 1 received cophenylcaine spray, group 2 received a placebo spray, and group 3 received no nasal preparation. Flexible nasendoscopy was carried out via a stated protocol and the patient's diagnosis and findings were discussed in the usual way. After the consultation, the patient filled in a questionnaire marking answers on a visual analogue scale. The main outcome measures were pain and overall unpleasantness of procedure. Patient anxiety and willingness to be examined again in the same way if necessary were also assessed. Ease of examination and quality of view were asked from the operator's perspective. The mean scores on a visual analogue scale showed the main outcome measures to be as follows. Pain score measured 1.7 for cophenylcaine, 2.1 for no spray and 2.2 for placebo. Overall unpleasantness scores were 2.0 for cophenylcaine, 1.9 for no spray and 2.4 for placebo. On a visual analogue scale of 0–10, none of these mean main outcome measures reached levels of significance. It was concluded that the use of cophenylcaine spray before flexible nasendoscopy does not give significant advantages over the use of no nasal preparation.