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.
Keywords: Anesthetics; Grommet Insertion; Hospital; Lidocaine; Local Anesthetic; Outpatient Clinics; Topical; Tympanic Membrane; Xylocaine.