Evaluation of Topical Lidocaine Spray as Adjuvant to Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in Children and Teenagers

There is some controversy in the medical literature regarding the effectiveness of topical lidocaine in children as an adjuvant drug to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. In children, deep sedation and general anesthesia are often used to sedate children submitting to this procedure. Propofol is an anesthetic drug increasingly popular in this situation, but this drug can only be used with an anesthesiologist in Brazil. Its main side effects include hypotension, respiratory depression and local pain. Lidocaine is frequently used as premedication, and the rationale is that lowering patient discomfort could lower the required dose to achieve the endoscopy and reduce potential side effects. Nevertheless, some patients perceive this medication as uncomfortable. This study aims to compare sedative drug doses between patients who were given either placebo or topical lidocaine.