Strategies for the management of thirst in the perioperative period: a systematic review

Abstract

Objective: To identify strategies for managing perioperative thirst. Methods: Systematic literature review of the Lilacs, BDEnf, PUBMED / MEDLINE and Cochrane databases. To formulate the research question, the PICO strategy (Patient, Intervention, Comparison and Outcomes) was applied. In the selection of articles, the PRISMA method (Transparent Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes) was used, where the included studies were analyzed regarding the research question by the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) level of evidence. Results: In the analysis, 2 studies were selected, which addressed strategies for the management of thirst in the immediate postoperative period. Conclusion: From the analysis performed, the main strategy found to reduce thirst discomfort was based on the use of cold, showing ice as the most effective in the final intensity of thirst of patients in the immediate postoperative period.

Keywords

• thirst
• nursing care
• perioperative nursing
• perioperative period