Evaluation of the Effect of the Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure Measurement on Postoperative Sore Throat

Abstract

BACKGROUND Following general anaesthesia, up to 62% of patients experience postoperative sore throat. Despite the fact that it resolves on its own, efforts must be made to reduce it. We wanted to evaluate the difference between conventional method and instrumental measurement of cuff pressure in incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat in this study. METHODS A prospective observational study that included 150 adult patients aged < 50 years scheduled for elective surgical operation requiring general anaesthesia and endotracheal intubation. They were divided randomly into two groups: Group A included 75 patients and the adequacy of cuff inflation was generally assessed clinically and group B included 75 patients and the adequacy of cuff inflation was generally assessed by using a cuff manometer. RESULTS Incidence of postoperative sore throat in all times was significantly lower in Group B than in Group A. Prevalence of mild postoperative sore throat after one hr. was significantly higher in group B than that in group A (94.1% versus 61.4%, P= 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Impaired tracheal mucosal blood flow was an important factor in the incidence of postoperative sore throat associated with tracheal intubation and recommended that a cuff inflation pressure of 30 cmH2O should not be exceeded.