title: Comparison of Effectiveness of Betamethasone gel Applied to the Tracheal Tube and IV Dexamethasone on Postoperative Sore Throat: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative sore throat is a common complaint in patients with endotracheal intubation and has potentially dangerous complications. This randomized controlled trial study investigated the incidence of postoperative sore throat after general anesthesia when betamethasone gel is applied to a tracheal tube compared with when IV dexamethasone is prescribed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and twenty five American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA)-class I and II patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery with tracheal intubation were randomly divided into three groups: betamethasone gel, intravenous (IV) dexamethasone, and control groups. In the post-anesthesia care unit, a blinded anesthesiologist interviewed all patients regarding postoperative sore throat at 1,6, and 24 hours after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of sore throat was significantly lower in the betamethasone gel group compared with the IV dexamethasone and control groups, 1, 6, and 24 hours after surgery. In the first day after surgery 10.7% of the betamethasone group had sore throat whereas 26.7% of the IV dexamethasone group and 30.7% of the control group had sore throat. Bucking before extubation was observed in 14(18.4%), 8(10.4%), and 9(12.2%) patients, in the IV dexamethasone, betamethasone gel, and control group, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that wide spread application of betamethasone gel over tracheal tubes effectively mitigates postoperative sore throat, compared with IV dexamethasone application.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Masumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tabari
authors.forename: Ghasem
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soltani
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zirak
authors.forename: Moammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alipour
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khazaeni
keywords: Betamethasone; Dexamethasone; Pharyngitis; Surgical procedures complications; Tracheal intubation