title: [Development of a safety protocol for management thirst in the immediate postoperative period].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a safety protocol for the management of thirst in the immediate postoperative period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative, methodological, and applied study conducted in April-August 2012. An extensive literature search and expert consultation was carried out to develop the protocol and its operating manual. Theoretical and semantic analyzes were carried out by experts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Assessment of level of consciousness, reflexes of protection of the airways (cough and swallowing), and absence of nausea and vomiting were selected as safety criteria. These criteria were grouped and formatted in a graph algorithm, which indicates the need to interrupt the procedure if a security criterion does not reach the expected standard.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protocol was elaborated to fill in the gap in the literature of a specific model concerning nursing actions in the safe management of thirst in the immediate postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonel Alves do
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lígia Fahl
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edilaine Giovanini
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Rosseto
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia Benedita Dos
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013894:Thirst