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Manuscript: 5017 wordsManuscript Reference Number: 15-164 (1 st revised submission) All authors have contributed the work, agree with the presented findings, the work has not been published before nor is being considered for publication in another journal.
Correspondence address
1 out of 9 (11%) repeat FNA reports were inadequate in the second cycle compared to 4 out of 13 (30%) in the first cycle (Figure 2).In both cycles, all of the patients with initial inadequate FNA reports (n = 17) were diagnosed with benign pathology on further investigation.
Background
Injectable anaesthetic agents, topical creams and aqueous solutions have previously been used to anaesthetise the tympanic membrane for minor ear procedures. Topical creams take 20–30 minutes to work and injectable anaesthetics can cause canal swelling. The effectiveness of lidocaine spray has not previously been investigated in patients undergoing minor ear procedures.
Methods
Eighteen participants attending for out-patient grommet insertion or intratympanic steroid injection were prospectively recruited for this study over six months. Post-operatively, they were asked about their perceived level of pain and overall experience.
Results
The median level of pain measured on an 11-point visual analogue scale was 2 out of 10. Forty-four per cent reported the overall experience as pleasant, with the remainder selecting slightly unpleasant (66 per cent). All participants stated they would undergo the procedure again.
Conclusion
Xylocaine spray is simple to administer, rapid-acting and well tolerated by patients for anaesthesia of the tympanic membrane during minor ear procedures in the out-patient setting.
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