Background: Alkalinized intracuff lignocaine has lower incidence of post extubation sore throat and also has decreased haemodynamic response to extubation when compared to intracuff air. Alkalinized lignocaine also maintains a stable cuff pressure during oxygen nitrous anaesthesia.

Methods: 100 healthy patients of both sexes, aged between 18-50 years, ASA physical status I & II, scheduled for elective surgeries were divided into 2 groups of 50 patients each as Group A (intracuff Alkalinized lignocaine, n=50) and Group B (intracuff air, n=50) by a computer generated randomized table. Immediately after extubation patient was assessed for sore throat, heart rate, blood pressure at 1hour and 24 hours.

Results: In group A the mean cuff pressure at the end of surgery was 19.96+0.727. In group B the mean cuff pressure at the end of surgery was 38.58+8.129. 14% had sore throat after 1 hour in group A as compared to 36% in group B. At 24 hour the incidence of sore throat in group A was 12 % as compared to 52% in group B.

Conclusion: Alkalinized intracuff lignocaine has lower incidence of post extubation sore throat and also has decreased hemodynamic response to extubation when compared to intracuff air. Alkalinized lignocaine also maintains a stable cuff pressure during oxygen nitrous anaesthesia.