The Effect of Lignocaine on Nasal Resistance and Nasal Sensation of Airflow

The effect of lignocaine on nasal sensation of airflow and nasal resistance was assessed in twenty-five subjects. A randomised crossover trial was conducted with lignocaine as the active drug and saline as the placebo. Both substances were delivered to the nasal mucosa as a nasal spray. Lignocaine caused a sensation of increased nasal patency in twenty-two of the twenty-five subjects studied. Saline had no such effect. The difference between this subjective effect of the two substances was highly significant (p>0.001). Neither spray had any significant effect on nasal resistance to airflow assessed objectively by rhinomanometry.