Effect of intravenous lignocaine infusion on the quality of emergence in patients undergoing transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors – A prospective, randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Emergence from anesthesia is a critical step in patients undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (TSS). The cough suppressant and anesthetic sparing properties of lignocaine makes it a favorable option for smooth extubation and maintaining stable hemodynamics intraoperatively. We aimed to evaluate the effect of lignocaine infusion on the quality of emergence (QOE) and intraoperative hemodynamics in patients undergoing transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors. METHODS: Fifty patients scheduled to undergo TSS were randomly divided into ligocaine group (n = 25), receiving 1.5 mg/kg bolus dose of lignocaine followed by continuous infusion of 1.5 mg/kg/h and saline group (n = 25). Patients assigned to the control group received equal volume of saline receiving equal volume of saline. The four emergence parameters (mean arterial pressure [MAP], heart rate (HR), cough, and agitation) were abbreviated into an aggregated score for QOE. Time to emergence and intraoperative hemodynamics were also recorded. RESULTS: The QOE was not found to be different between the two groups (P = 0.294). Lignocaine did not increase the time to emergence (P = 0.166). The intraoperative HR and MAP were comparable between the two groups. A lower minimum alveolar concentration of desflurane was required in lignocaine group during insertion of nasal speculum (P = 0.018) and at the time of seller ridge dissection (P = 0.043) compared to the saline group. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative lignocaine infusion of 1.5 mg/kg/h did not significantly improve the QOE with respect to hemodynamics, cough, and emergence agitation in patients undergoing transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors.