XXVIII The Effect of Two Topical Anesthetic Drugs on the Mucus Flow in the Respiratory Tract

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Abstract
The self-cleansing ability of the respiratory mucosa as a defense mechanism is important. By using a technique based on direct observation under magnification, on a number of tracheostomized subjects, in whom conditions in the nose were considered to be similar to those normally found in the lower respiratory tract, two widely used topical anesthetic drugs, Xylocaine (lidocaine) and Tetracaine (pontocaine), were studied as to their effect on the mucus-clearance ability of the nasal, ciliated epithelium. Xylocaine, 4%, did not impair mucus flow in the majority of observations, whereas Tetracaine, 2%, caused an immediate and complete cessation in all instances. The results in the human study were corroborated by those found in an animal group in which Tetracaine, unlike Xylocaine, was seen to cause an immediate and long-lasting arrest of both ciliary activity and mucus flow. The recommendation is made that Xylocaine be used instead of Tetracaine as a topical anesthetic in the respiratory tract.

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