Incidence of Postoperative Sore Throat and Associated Factors Among Pediatric Patients Undergoing Surgery Under General Anesthesia at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, a Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Background Postoperative sore throat is one of the common postoperative complications following general anesthesia. Postoperative sore throat causes decreased patient satisfaction, and it affects patients’ well-being after surgery, thus identifying its incidence and predictors helps to distinguish the preventable causes of postoperative sore throat. This study aimed to assess the incidence and associated factors of postoperative sore throat among pediatric patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia at Hawassa university comprehensive specialized hospital. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted among children in the age range 6–16 years old who underwent emergency and elective surgical procedures under general anesthesia. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 26 software packages. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the independent predictors. The presence and severity of postoperative sore throat were assessed by using a four-point categorical pain scale at the 2nd, 6th, 12th, and 24th-hour postoperative time. Results A total of 102 children were recruited in this study, from which 27 children (26.5%) complained of sore throat postoperatively. This study found that endotracheal intubation (P value: 0.030; AOR: 3.155; 95% CI [1.114–8.933]) and several attempts greater than one (P value: 0.027 and AOR: 4.890; 95% CI: [1.203–19.883]) had statistically significant association with a postoperative sore throat. Conclusion The overall incidence of postoperative sore throat was 26.5%. Endotracheal intubation and the number of attempts greater than one were independent factors that were significantly associated with the occurrence of postoperative sore throat in this study.

Comparison of preformed microcuff and preformed uncuffed endotracheal tubes in pediatric cleft palate surgery—A randomized controlled trial

“…The size selection of uncuffed tubes is only sometimes appropriate. It is associated with a high rate of tube exchange, increasing the risk of airway injury and postoperative sore throat 3,4 . The changes in head position intraoperatively make the tracheal tube migration more likely 5,6 .…”

Leveraging artificial intelligence to identify high-risk patients for postoperative sore throat: An observational study

“…Around 313 million surgeries are annually performed worldwide, with the majority of patients undergoing general anesthesia with an endotracheal tube [1]. Postoperative sore throat (POST), described as pain or discomfort in the larynx or pharynx during the postoperative period [2], is a frequent complication that arises following general anesthesia with tracheal intubation, with an incidence between 19% and 62% [3,4]. Though POST often resolves independently, it can heighten patient dissatisfaction, increase analgesic use, and elevate healthcare costs [2,5].…”

“…Postoperative sore throat (POST), described as pain or discomfort in the larynx or pharynx during the postoperative period [2], is a frequent complication that arises following general anesthesia with tracheal intubation, with an incidence between 19% and 62% [3,4]. Though POST often resolves independently, it can heighten patient dissatisfaction, increase analgesic use, and elevate healthcare costs [2,5]. Moreover, POST may interfere with the patient's ability to eat and drink, potentially leading to dehydration, malnutrition, and delayed recovery [6,7].…”