Cough control with dexmedetomidine, magnesium sulfate, or lidocaine after general anesthesia

Comparative Study Between Efficacy of Dexmedetomidine, Magnesium Sulphate and Lidocaine for Cough Suppression During General Anesthetic Emergence

This study will see if dexmedetomidine, magnesium sulfate, or lidocaine reduces how often and how hard adults cough while waking from general anesthesia.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 300 (estimated)
• Ages: 21 Years to 60 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Al-Azhar University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Asyut)
• Trial ID: NCT06979141 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind Phase 3 trial comparing dexmedetomidine, magnesium sulfate, and lidocaine to normal saline for cough suppression during emergence from general anesthesia. Eligible adults (21–60 years) with ASA I–II and BMI <30 undergoing surgery under general anesthesia are randomized to one of the study arms and managed by blinded staff. The number and severity of coughs during emergence are recorded as primary outcomes, with monitoring for hemodynamic and respiratory side effects. The trial is conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, Al‑Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 21–60 years, ASA physical status I–II, BMI under 30 kg/m2, Mallampati class I–II who are scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia at the Al‑Azhar Assiut center are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with major organ disease, active airway infection or prior airway surgery, BMI over 30, pregnant or lactating women, or those taking cough‑inducing medications are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If effective, one of these drugs could reduce coughing and related complications during recovery from general anesthesia, resulting in a smoother and safer emergence.

How similar studies have performed: Prior smaller trials have shown intravenous dexmedetomidine and lidocaine can reduce emergence coughing, while evidence for magnesium sulfate in this setting is more limited.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged 21-60 years.
* Both genders.
* Body mass index \< 30 kg/ m2
* American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical status I-II.
* Mallampati score class I or II.
* Patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Known allergy to study drugs.
* History of psychiatric illness.
* Patients with major organ diseases.
* Pre-existing neurological deficits.
* Body mass index \>30 kg/m2.
* Active airway infection or history of tracheal and laryngeal surgery.
* Lower esophageal sphincter incompetence (and reflux).
* Increased intracranial and intraocular pressure.
* Use of cough-inducing medications
* Pregnant, and lactating women.

Where this trial is running

Asyut

• Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar university Assiut, Egypt. — Asyut, Egypt (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Mahmoud T Abd Elhafeez, Specialist.Mcs — [e-mail]
• Study coordinator: Medhat H Allam, lecturer.MD

Conditions Cough