Comparing the Preemptive Effect of 4 and 8 mg Intracuff Dexamethasone on Postoperative Sore Throat and Cough

Abstract

Background: Postoperative sore throat after extubation is a common complication after surgery following general anesthesia. Several methods have been proposed, such as the use of intracuff dexamethasone to control these complications, but there is not always a standard method for it. The purpose of this study was to compare the precautionary effect of two different doses of intracuff dexamethasone (4 and 8 mg) on postoperative sore throat and cough. Methods: In this clinical trial study, 90 patients underwent general anesthesia with intubation were included. Patients were randomly divided into three groups. The first group received 4 mg, and the second one, 8 mg dexamethasone, and the third, physiologic serum in the form of intracuff before intubation. Postoperative sore throat and cough were compared between the three groups. Findings: The mean intensity of postoperative sore throat at recovery, and 1 and 24 hours later, and the number of coughing in recovery in the first and second groups was significantly lower than the placebo group (P 0.05). Moreover, there was no significant difference between the three groups based on demographic data. Conclusion: The use of intracuff dexamethasone in doses of 4 and 8 mg has a beneficial effect on reducing complications after extubation, such as sore throat and postoperative cough, and there is no difference between the two doses in reducing these complications.

Keywords

• Dexamethasone
• Cough
• Pharynx
• Pain