Abstract

Regianal anesthesia applied by means of a gargle provides satisfactory analgesia for premedication of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). To access the influence of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride after regional anesthesia on oropharyngeal components of swal- lowing, we used the videofluorographic swallowing study for the evaluation of pharyngeal architecture, time of pharyngeal barium passage, and the submental surface EMG(S-EMG) for the evaluation of functional changes in skeletal muscle. Measurements were made in 10 healthy volunteers without any oropharyngeal problems. There was no liquid aspiration symptoms or signs before and after regional anesthesia application. Also, there were no structural changes in pharyngeal swallowing motion and no significant prolongation of pharyngeal barium transit time. But regional anesthesia affected the eletro-activities in swallowing skeletal muscle, i.e, the swallowing durations, peak amplitudes of peristaltic wave, and area under curves in S-EMG, which returned to pre-anesthesia levels in 60 minute's time. Therefore, it will be recommended to avoid meal within 60 minute's after regional anesthesia for EGD. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 18: 811-816, 1998)

• Keywords: Submental surface electromyogram , Videoflurographic swallowing study , Lidocaine