Frequency of Airway Complications with Modified Recovery Position <em>versus</em> Conventional Recovery position for Extubation after General Anaesthesia.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the frequency of respiratory complications encountered in two different positions used for extubation i.e. conventional recovery position versus the modified recovery position (recovery position with 10-degree left tilt and head-down).

STUDY DESIGN

Comparative study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Anaesthesia, Combine Military Hospital, Kohat, Pakistan, from April 2022 to March 2023.

METHODOLOGY

Two hundred patients scheduled for elective nose and throat surgeries were equally divided into two groups (Group C and Group M). Patients with history of bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), recent respiratory infection, and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were excluded from this study. Patients with more than two intubation attempts were also excluded. Group C patients were extubated in a conventional left lateral recovery position, whereas Group M patients were extubated in a modified recovery position with patient in a left lateral position with 10-degree head-down and 10-degree left tilt. All patients were observed for persistent coughing (coughing that lasted for at least 2 minutes after extubation), breath holding for 20 seconds or more, desaturation (oxygen saturation less than 90%), laryngospasm, need for reintubation, vomiting, and regurgitation.

RESULTS

Frequency of airway complications was significantly higher in Group C as compared to Group M. In Group C, 18 (18%) out of hundred patients had complications compared to 6 (6%) patients only in Group M (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Extubation in a modified recovery position is associated with reduced frequency of airway complications as compared to the conventional recovery position.

KEY WORDS

Airway complications, Extubation, Cough, Laryngospasm, Recovery position.