Influence of Spraying the Vocal Cords on Postoperative Sore Throat in Adults Undergoing General anesthesia-A Retrospective Study in Taiwanese Population

Abstract

Background: Topical application of local anaesthetic solution to the vocal cords is a technique commonly employed in anaesthetic practice. The purpose of present study was to explore the influence of 1000 lidocaine spray on postoperative sore throat (POST) retrospectively. Materials and methods: The anesthetic and postoperative visit records of 294 orotracheally inmbated adult patients undergoing general anesthesia for various elective surgery were analyzed retrospectively. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups: (1) control group (group C), 206 patients received standard general anesthesia induction; (2) spraying group (group S), 88 patients received the same induction regimen and spraying vocal cords with 10% lidocaine (1mg/kg) befbre tracheal intubation. Main outcomes evaluations included the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat on the day and 1st day after surgery. Results: The overall incidence of sore throat was comparable between two groups, 29.5 % in group C and 33.5 % in group S (p＞0.05) on the day of surgery. The ratio of moderate and severe sore throat was significant lower in group C (10.2%) than in group S(18.2%) on the day of surgery and the day after surgery (6.8% vs 11.3%) (both p＜0.05). Both incidence and severity of POST diminished on the 1st day after surgery. Conclusion: Spraying the vocal cords with 10% lidocaine spray may contribute to higher severity of postoperative sore throat, and should be avoided routinely to prevent POST.