title: Sore throat in women after intubation with 6.5 or 7.0 mm endotracheal tube: a quantitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women experience more sore throats than men after endotracheal intubation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of self-rated sore throat immediately, and 2-4 hours postoperatively, in women after elective gynaecological surgery under general anaesthesia using an endotracheal tube (ETT) size 6.5 or 7.0mm in inner diameter.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two female participants who had undergone elective gynaecological surgery participated, 44 and 38 were intubated with size 6.5 mm ETT and 7.0mm ETT respectively. They estimated the occurrence of sore throat preoperatively and postoperatively, according to a 4-point Likert scale. Statistical data were analysed using the Package for Social Science (SPSS) 19.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sore throat was present in 29.5% of participants who were intubated with size 6.5 mm ETT immediately postoperatively and in 39.5% of those who were intubated with size 7.0 mm ETT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses specialising in the supervision of daily care specific to the intubated patient should note and alleviate sore throat as part of their nursing care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Central Operation Ward, Sunderby Hospital, Luleå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gustavsson
authors.affiliation: Division of Health and Rehabilitation, Department of Health Science, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vikman
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit 57, Sunderby Hospital, Luleå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nyström
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing, Department of Health Science, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden. Electronic address: asa.engstrom@ltu.se.
authors.forename: Åsa
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Engström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000451:nursing*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Endotracheal intubation; Nursing; Postanaesthesia care unit; Quantitative; Sore throat; Women