The combination of simethicone and N-acetylcysteine in lidocaine ice popsicle compared with lidocaine ice popsicle alone in patients undergoing unsedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy: A prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial

Background

Optimal mucosal visualization is essential for high-quality esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), particularly for the detection of subtle upper gastrointestinal lesions. Oral simethicone and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) are commonly used to improve mucosal cleanliness, whereas lidocaine ice popsicles provide effective topical pharyngeal anesthesia for unsedated EGD. We evaluated whether incorporating simethicone and NAC into a lidocaine ice popsicle could improve mucosal visibility while maintaining patient comfort.