Risk factors for postoperative throat pain after general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation at the University of Gondar Teaching Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2014

Abstract

IntroductionPostoperative sore throat is listed from the top as patients’ most undesirable outcome in the postoperative period. It is believed to originate from mucosal dehydration or edema, tracheal ischemia secondary to the pressure of endotracheal tube cuffs, aggressive oropharyngeal suctioning, and mucosal erosion from friction between delicate tissues and the endotracheal tube. Even if the problem was indicated in many literatures, it has never been studied in our country. The study aimed to assess prevalence and factors associated with postoperative sore throat among patients who were operated under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation.MethodsHospital based cross sectional study was conducted from February 25 - April 10, 2014 in Gondar University hospital. Patient interview and chart review were employed for data collection. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine the association.ResultsA total of 240 out of 299 patients were included in this study with a response rate of 80.3%. The prevalence of postoperative sore throat within 48 hours after operation was 59.6%. Factors which had association with postoperative sore throat from the multivariate logistic regression were female sex (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.07, 10.375), repeated number of attempts to intubate (AOR = 3.291, 95% CI: 1.658, 6.531), and the use of nasogastric tube (AOR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.174, 0.965) respectively.ConclusionThe prevalence of postoperative sore throat was high in Gondar University Hospital. Awareness creation about the problem should be made for health professionals and postoperative sore throat management protocol need to be introduced.

The impact of prophylactic dexamethasone on postoperative sore throat: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Compared with these different drugs, no statistical difference in the incidence of POST at 24 hours was found in patients receiving dexamethasone (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.46–1.07, P =0.10; Figure 3 ). No statistical heterogeneity was found among studies ( P =0.49, I 2 =0%).…”

“…28 , 29 Comparable incidence of POST at 24 hours was found in patients receiving dexamethasone administered 30 minutes prior to intubation vs 30 minutes after tracheal intubation (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.44–1.86, P =0.79; Figure S2 ). No statistical heterogeneity was found among studies ( P =0.66, I 2 =0%).…”

“…19 , 25 , 27 Compared with placebo, comparable incidence of cough was found in patients treated with dexamethasone with or without concomitant drugs (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.19–1.89, P =0.38; Figure 7 ). Statistical heterogeneity was found among studies ( P =0.02, I 2 =71%).…”

“…Dichotomous variables were calculated with ORs and 95% CIs. We used random-effects model to pool data with statistical heterogeneity determined by the inconsistency index ( I 2 ≥50%) and the Chi-squared test ( P ≤0.10). Subgroup analyses were conducted to determine the optimal dose and administration time.…”

The efficacy of vitamin C infusion in reducing post-intubation sore throat

“…The sore throat complication includes mucosal erosion caused by the cuff of the tracheal tube, mucosal dehydration and trauma from tracheal intubation (25). Several studies in developed and Western populations have been done to prevent postoperative sore throat (26). On the other hand, pharmacological and non-pharmacological procedures are used for the elimination of sore throat (27).…”