Nebulized Lidocaine for Flexible Bronchoscopy: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

The article focuses on clinical trials of patients undergoing diagnostic flexible bronchoscopy to evaluate whether nebulized lidocaine provides additional benefit and reduces the total anesthetic dose required during bronchoscopy. One hundred fifty patients undergoing diagnostic flexible bronchoscopy were randomized to receive either 4 ml of 4% lidocaine or 4 ml of saline solution as placebo via nebulization. Combined sedation was achieved using 5 mg of IV hydrocodone and midazolam boluses. The researchers demonstrated that nebulized lidocaine can reduce the requirement for supplemental topical anesthesia administered via injection through the bronchoscope.