رجل عمره ٦٣ سنة بعد تنظير القصبات تحت تخدير موضعي للحلق قبل ساعة لأخذ خزعة. هو واعٍ تماماً، والتشبع ٩٦٪، ويطلب ماءً لأن فمه جاف. ما التصرف الصحيح؟

A 63-year-old man had bronchoscopy with a biopsy under local throat anaesthesia an hour ago. He is fully alert with SpO2 96% and asks for water because his mouth is dry. What is the correct action?

1. Check that the gag reflex has returned first
2. Give water at once because his throat is dry
3. Withhold all drinks for a full 24 hours
4. Give juice instead because it is lighter

Answer: A) Check that the gag reflex has returned first. Local anaesthesia blunts the gag reflex for some hours, and oral intake before it returns risks aspiration. The reflex is checked first, and bleeding and dyspnoea are monitored.