Question

Laryngeal spasm induced during intubation can be prevented by the following drugs EXCEPT

• A. Fentanyl
• B. Local anaesthetic spray
• C. Rofecoxib
• D. Diltiazem

Hint:

Think about which option is a pure anti-inflammatory painkiller with no airway-reflex or anaesthetic action.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks which of the listed drugs plays no part in preventing laryngospasm around the time of intubation, a common anaesthesia topic about controlling airway reflexes.

Step 2: Key Concept or Approach:
Laryngospasm is a protective reflex closure of the vocal cords triggered by airway irritation during light anaesthesia or instrumentation of the larynx. It is reduced by blunting airway reflexes with opioids such as fentanyl, by applying local anaesthetic spray directly to the cords before instrumentation, and by ensuring an adequate depth of anaesthesia before laryngoscopy.

Step 3: Working Through the Options:
Fentanyl blunts the sympathetic and airway reflex response to laryngoscopy, lowering laryngospasm risk. Local anaesthetic spray applied to the larynx directly reduces reflex irritability and is a standard technique before airway instrumentation. Diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker, has been used in anaesthesia practice to blunt the haemodynamic and reflex response to laryngoscopy, giving it at least an indirect airway-protective role. Rofecoxib is a COX-2 selective NSAID used purely for pain and inflammation; it has no action on airway reflexes, no sedative or local anaesthetic effect, and no established role whatsoever in preventing laryngospasm.

Step 4: Conclusion:
The correct answer is Rofecoxib, since it is a plain anti-inflammatory analgesic with no bearing on airway reflex suppression.