title: Postoperative Sore Throat Prevention in Ambulatory Surgery: A Comparison between Preoperative Aspirin and Magnesium Sulfate Gargle - A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative sore throat (POST) frequently hampers the positive feedback of ambulatory surgery in spite of so many measures. This study was carried out to compare the efficacy of preoperative magnesium sulfate and aspirin gargle in preventing POST after ambulatory surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a prospective, randomized, and double-blinded study. Fifty-six adult patients of either sex, aged 25-50, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-II, scheduled for day care surgery, were randomly allocated to Group A ([n= 28] receiving aspirin gargle [325 mg tablet]) and Group M ([n= 28] receiving magnesium sulfate [20 mg/kg] gargle). In both groups, the medications were made into 20 mL of (5% dextrose) solution. Patients were asked to gargle with this mixture for 30 s, 15 min before induction of anesthesia. Episodes of POST were measured at 0, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, and 16 h postoperatively with a four-point scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups had a similar demographic profile with comparable oxygen saturation, hemodynamics, and consciousness status at immediate postoperative period. Number of patients with sore throat was significantly lower in magnesium group compared to aspirin group at 0 h (P= 0.0376), 2 h (P= 0.0429), 4 h (P= 0.0394) after the operation. POST pain score (visual analog scale) was significantly (P< 0.05) lower in magnesium group compared to aspirin group after the operation at 0, 2, 4 h after operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is evident that preoperative magnesium sulfate gargle significantly attenuated the incidence and severity of POST, especially in the early postoperative period, with no adverse effects in patients undergoing day care surgery under general anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Surajit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chattopadhyay
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Anjan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, N.R.S Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Sabyasachi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nandy
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Midnapore Medical College and Hospital, Midnapore, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Sandip
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: RoyBasunia
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Murshidabad Medical College, Berhampore, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Tapobrata
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Partha Sarathi
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Halder
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Subinay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chhaule
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Subrata Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mandal
keywords: Aspirin; day care surgery (ambulatory surgery) magnesium sulfate; postoperative sore throat