Could a simple ointment on breathing tubes prevent Post-Surgery coughing?
NCT ID NCT07709390
First seen Jul 16, 2026 · Last updated Sep 04, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This clinical trial tests whether coating a breathing tube with 5% lidocaine ointment before insertion reduces coughing and throat irritation as patients wake up from anesthesia. Adults aged 18 to 90 undergoing surgery with general anesthesia are randomly assigned to receive either the lidocaine ointment or a standard water-based lubricant on the tube. The study measures coughing episodes during emergence, as well as sore throat and hoarseness afterward, to see if lidocaine improves airway comfort.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- 5% lidocaine ointment applied to the breathing tube before insertion
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this simple, low-cost approach could reduce coughing and throat discomfort after surgery, improving recovery for many patients.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase trial, so results may not confirm benefit. Lidocaine could cause side effects like numbness or allergic reactions, and the ointment might not reduce coughing better than standard lubricant.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
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About 212 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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May 2023
- Expected to finish
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Jan 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 90 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Adults aged 18 years and older, with an upper age limit of 90 years, scheduled for surgery requiring general anesthesia with an oral endotracheal tube. Patients undergoing general surgical procedures, including but not limited to abdominal surgeries (e.g., hernia repairs, cholecystectomy, appendectomy, bowel surgery), non-cervical spinal surgeries, craniotomies, orthopedic procedures, urologic procedures, and other procedures meeting the inclusion criteria. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status I, II, III, or IV. Patients able to provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Age younger than 18 years or older than 90 years. Patients undergoing procedures requiring a specialized airway device instead of a standard oral endotracheal tube (e.g., laryngeal mask airway, double-lumen endobronchial tube). Patients with known hypersensitivity or allergy to amide local anesthetics. Patients with pre-existing sore throat, upper respiratory infection, or active cough at baseline. Patients requiring postoperative mechanical ventilation or critically ill patients requiring intensive care. Patients unable to adequately report outcomes or participate in follow-up assessments. Current smokers. Pregnant women. Prisoners.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
RECRUITINGColumbus, Ohio, 43201, United States