EFFECT OF PREOPERATIVE INTRAVENOUS DEXAMETHASONE ON POSTOPERATIVE SORE THROAT FOLLOWING ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION.

Corresponding Author:
Nidhi Rani Gupta,
Lecturer, Department of Anaesthesia,
J Block, TDMCH Vandanam-688005,
Alappuzha, Kerala.
E-mail: drnidhigarg@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a common complaint following endotracheal intubation for general anaesthesia. The aim is to study the effectiveness of intravenous dexamethasone in postoperative sore throat and the side effects associated with its use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted in patients undergoing general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation in our department in Government T. D. Medical College, Alappuzha. Altogether 80 patients were studied who were divided into a control group and a study group by convenient allocation so that each group comprises 40 patients. Control group received 2 mL of normal saline intravenously and study group received 8 mg of dexamethasone intravenously before induction of anaesthesia. Patients were asked about the presence of sore throat at different time intervals for the next 24 hours after surgery. Also, presence of gastric irritation and RBS values were checked every 6^th hour for 24 hours.

RESULTS

In the first 6 hours after surgery, majority of patients in the control group had sore throat in the initial 30 minutes whereas in the dexamethasone group, less number of patients complained of sore throat. But thereafter complaints of sore throat decreased in both the groups. Most of the patients who had sore throat in either group belonged to the ‘mild’ category. Nobody in either group had severe sore throat. When questioned 30 minutes after surgery, 23 patients in the control group and only 12 patients in the dexamethasone group had sore throat which is a significant difference as stated by the p value. From 7 to 24 hours, majority of patients in either group did not experience sore throat. Mild sore throat was present in few patients in both the groups. No patient in either group had moderate or severe sore throat. Majority of patients enrolled in the study in both the groups did not complain of any postoperative gastric irritation.

CONCLUSION

Prophylactic dexamethasone decreases the incidence of postoperative sore throat especially in the 1^st hour after surgery. Also gastric irritation was not found to be a significant side effect but postoperative.

KEYWORDS

Postoperative Sore Throat, Gastric Irritation, Dexamethasone.