title: Efficacy of sucralfate in the postoperative management of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty: a double-blind, randomized, controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of sucralfate in influencing throat pain, otalgia, analgesic requirement, bleeding, mucosal recovery, and incidence of postoperative bleeding in patients undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective double-blind randomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-affiliated tertiary referral hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome requiring uvulopalatopharyngoplasty were recruited and randomly allocated into either a sucralfate treatment group or a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Patients enrolled in the sucralfate group (n=40) were instructed to gargle the sucralfate suspension and then to swallow. Patients enrolled in the control group (n=40) were instructed to gargle placebo suspension at the same doses and schedule.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postoperative throat pain, otalgia, amount of analgesic required, degree of strength (defined as patients' general well-being and return to regular daily activities), percentage of mucosal covering, and postoperative bleeding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Throat pain and otalgia occurred significantly less often in sucralfate group, with less analgesic requirement and with rapid mucosal healing and early return to regular daily activities. There was no significant difference in episodes of postoperative bleeding between the 2 groups (P=.37).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although sucralfate therapy may not provide complete analgesia after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, it may reduce the amount of analgesic required, thus preventing dose-related adverse effects from the analgesic agent. It can also significantly reduce the total number of days needed to return to normal daily activities (P=.41).
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Communication Disorder Institute of Medical Science Research Center, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zodpe
authors.forename: Jae Gu
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hee Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Soon Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Heung-Man
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004433:Earache / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000601:surgery*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D010614:Pharynx / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000601:surgery*; D013392:Sucralfate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014609:Uvula / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D013392:Sucralfate