Abolition of Gagging and the Hemodynamic Response to Awake Laryngoscopy

Emergency management of the airway outside the operating room

“…Bilateral glossopharyngeal blocks are helpful as they serve to interrupt both innervation of these mechanoreceptors as well as sensation over the tongue and pharyngeal mucosa. 4 This block is performed bilaterally by injection of 2 ml lidocaine 2%, 0.5 cm lateral to the edge of the tongue where it forms the palatoglossal arch ( Figure 1). With practice, this block can be performed rapidly and adapted for use in such emergency settings to provide blockade of deep pressure sensation in the tongue not provided by other glossopharyngeal block techniques.…”