CONTEXT

Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a common annoying problem following endotracheal (ET) intubation.

AIMS

Comparing the impact of low and high doses of ketamine gargle on lowering POST incidence and severity.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

96 patients selected for septoplasty surgery under general anesthesia were investigated through a single-blind randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

This study was performed on three equal groups. Group K and G gargled 50 and 100 mg ketamine, respectively, solved in normal saline and group C gargled pure normal saline for 30 s at 5 min before tracheal intubation. POST severity measured immediately after the entrance to the postanesthetic care unit (PACU) and then 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, and 24 h after operation.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Collected data were analyzed by the Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Friedman test using SPSS version 20.

RESULTS

POST incidence and severity in group C were significantly higher than both K and G groups at all times. Although significant differences between low and high doses of ketamine were acknowledged at 8 h post-operation, 100 mg ketamine could attenuate POST severity further than 50 mg at all times.

CONCLUSIONS

It seems that 100 mg outperformed 50 mg ketamine without rising complications and dissatisfaction for subjects. So, it gives us a powerful reason to suggest gargling 100 mg ketamine for lessening POST incidence and severity.