The effect of the humidifier on sore throat and cough after thyroidectomy

Abstract

BackgroundThis study was performed to determine the effects of a humidifier with heated wire circuits on the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat (POST) and cough after thyroidectomy.MethodsA total of 61 patients scheduled for elective thyroid surgery under general anesthesia were included in this prospective study. We randomized the patients in to two groups, "without active warming and humidification" (Group C) and "using a heated humidifier" (Group H). The patients were interviewed to obtain the POST and cough scores at 1, 6, 24 and 48 hours after thyroidectomy.ResultsThe incidence of POST was significantly lower in Group H compared to Group C at 6 hours (57% vs 84%, P = 0.041), 24 hours (37% vs 65%, P = 0.045), and 48 hours (10% vs 52%, P = 0.001). Also the incidence of cough was significantly lower in Group H at 6 hours (27% vs 71%, P = 0.001), 24 hours (13% vs 45%, P = 0.015), and 48 hours (7% vs 32%, P = 0.028). The severity of POST was significantly lower in Group H at all times. In addition, the severity of cough was lower in Group H at other times except at 1 hour.ConclusionsThis result suggests that an active humidification of inspired gases may have the appreciable effect on reducing the incidence and severity of sore throat and cough after thyroid surgery using the endotracheal tube.

Incidence and risk factor for short term postoperative cough after thyroidectomy

“…One of the main ndings in the current study was that postoperative cough was relatively common after thyroid surgery, with an overall prevalence rate of 28.5%, and it was more common in patients with malignant disease than in patients with benign disease. In a study by Jung et al [17], the authors aimed to determine the effects of a humidi er with heated wire circuits on the prevalence and severity of cough after thyroidectomy, and they reported that in patients undergoing active humidi cation of inspired gases, the prevalence of postoperative cough was signi cantly decreased compared to patients without a heated humidi er. In the current study, all patients had routine postoperative aerosol inhalation of budesonide aerosol and ambroxol, twice a day for 5 days.…”

The Effect of Cold Vapor Treated to Thyroidectomy Patients During Early Postoperative Period

“…Cool and dry anaesthetic gas reaches the airways directly during the mechanical ventilation following endotracheal intubation. In this case, a reduction to be seen in the temperature and humidity of respiratory tracts (2,5,6). When the humidity level of respiratory tracts goes down below a certain value, mucus decreases.…”

“…Surgery and nursing care of thyroid gland, which is an important endocrine organ due to its functions, anatomic placement and neighborhood, requires a special knowledge and proficiency (1). Although thyroidectomy is one of the operations, which are frequently performed with a low mortality rate today, it may cause severe morbidity, bleeding, recurrent damage of neuronal and parathyroid glands and problems such as laryngeal edema (2,3). Pain is one of the early signs of these problems.…”

“…Pain is one of the early signs of these problems. The incidence of sore throat following the surgery was reported to be ranging between 14.4% and 98% in many reports; and to be higher among the patients who underwent thyroid surgery compared to the other operations (2,3,4). The other problems that may be often encountered following the surgery are throat dryness, difficulty in breathing and swallowing, cough and hoarseness.…”

“…The other problems that may be often encountered following the surgery are throat dryness, difficulty in breathing and swallowing, cough and hoarseness. Mucosal injuries on vocal cord or trachea during intubation, excessive drag of the tube between larynx and pharynx, contact of the tube's cuff with the tracheal area, dry anaesthetic gases, the effects of the surgical procedure performed on the region, the size and the shape of intubation tube, difficulty experienced during intubation and excessive oropharyngeal aspirations are among the causes of these challenges (2,5). Cool and dry anaesthetic gas reaches the airways directly during the mechanical ventilation following endotracheal intubation.…”