Risk factors associated with postoperative sore throat after tracheal intubation: an evaluation in the postanesthetic recovery room.
BACKGROUND
Postoperative sore throat after tracheal intubation is an unpleasant and distressing experience to patients. The aim of the study was to carry out a large-scale search for the risk factors of postoperative sore throat in patients undergoing endotracheal general anesthesia.


METHODS
During a 6-month study period, patients (> or = 10 years old) who consecutively underwent endotracheal general anesthesia for all kinds of surgical procedures were included. A total of 7541 patients were recruited in our study.


RESULTS
Five risk factors associated with postoperative sore throat were identified. They were female gender, age between 30-39, surgical sites within the oral or nasal cavity, or around the neck, use of nitrous oxide during anesthesia, and duration of anesthesia longer than 2 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
Five risk factors related to postoperative sore throat were identified in our study.
Chen
Kuan-Ting
KT
Department of Anesthesiology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tzeng
Jann-Inn
JI
Lu
Chin-Li
CL
Liu
Kuo-Sheng
KS
Chen
Yu-Wen
YW
Hsu
Chi-Sing
CS
Wang
Jhi-Joung
JJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D009609:Nitrous Oxide