Benefits of Endotracheal Tube Intracuff Lidocaine Use

Title: Educational Intervention to Improve the Knowledge of Anesthesia Providers on the Benefit of Endotracheal Tube (ETT) Intracuff Lidocaine Use Background: Endotracheal intubation with an ETT is essential for general anesthesia and mechanical ventilation, yet it poses risks such as postoperative sore throat, coughing, and voice hoarseness. Recent studies suggest that using lidocaine or alkalinized lidocaine as an ETT cuff inflation medium can significantly reduce these complications. However, this practice is not widely adopted or taught in anesthesia programs. Methods: A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest-posttest design was employed. The study involved 48 anesthesia providers who were invited to participate via email, with 12 completing the study, yielding a 25% response rate. The educational intervention consisted of a YouTube video detailing the benefits and mechanism of ETT intracuff lidocaine use. Participants completed a pretest, received the educational intervention, and then completed a posttest. Data collection and analysis were conducted using the Qualtrics system. Results: The pretest average score was 7.5 out of 10, and the posttest average was 8.2 out of 10, indicating a positive knowledge gain. Significant improvements were noted in questions related to the material and function of ETT cuffs, lidocaine's effects, and interactions with nitrous oxide. The largest improvement (33.3%) was observed in knowledge about ETT cuff materials. However, one question showed a slight decrease (8.3%) in correct responses, potentially due to the complexity of the question or misinterpretation. Discussion & Conclusions: The educational intervention effectively increased the knowledge of anesthesia providers about the use of ETT intracuff lidocaine. The results support the integration of this practice to reduce postoperative complications. This study demonstrates that an educational intervention can significantly improve anesthesia providers' knowledge regarding ETT intracuff lidocaine use. The positive shift in posttest scores suggests that such educational modules are beneficial and should be considered in anesthesia training programs to enhance patient care during and after surgery. Keywords: ETT intracuff lidocaine, educational intervention, anesthesia providers, postoperative complications, CRNAs, evidence-based practice.