The prophylactic effect of dexamethasone on postoperative sore throat in prone position surgery.
BACKGROUND
Sore throat and hoarseness are common complications after general anesthesia with tracheal intubation. The position for patients can affect the incidence of postoperative sore throat (POST) by causing displacement of the endotracheal tube. This study investigated the prophylactic effect of dexamethasone in prone position surgeries.


METHODS
One hundred-fifty patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery (18-75 yr) were randomly allocated into the normal saline group (group P, n = 50), dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg group (group D1, n = 50) or dexamethasone 0.2 mg/kg group (group D2, n = 50). The incidence and severity of POST, hoarseness, and cough were measured using direct interview at 1, 6, and 24 h after tracheal extubation. The severity of POST, hoarseness, and cough were graded using a 4-point scale.


RESULTS
At 1, 6, and 24 h after extubation, the incidence of sore throat was significantly lower in group D1 (1 h; P = 0.015, 6 h; P < 0.001, 24 h; P = 0.038) and group D2 (1 h; P < 0.001, 6 h; P < 0.001, 24 h; P = 0.017) compared to group P. There were less number of patients in the groups D1 and D2 than group P suffering from moderate grade of POST at 1, 24 h after extubation. The incidence of hoarseness at 1, 6, and 24 h after extubation was significantly lower in groups D2 than group P (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the incidence of cough among the three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The prophylactic use of dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg in prone surgery reduces the incidence of postoperative sore throat and dexamethasone 0.2 mg/kg decreases the incidence of hoarseness.
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Sang Ho
SH
Lee
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Yoon Chan
YC
Lee
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Ji Hyeon
JH
Lee
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
So Ron
SR
Choi
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Seung-Cheol
SC
Lee
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Jong Hwan
JH
Lee
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Chan Jong
CJ
Chung
Cough; Dexamethasone; Hoarseness; Prone position; Sore throat