Year : 2020

Volume : Volume 11

Issue : Issue 2s

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Raghav Manchanda.
vinayrita226@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  This study was intended to evaluate the role of dispersible zinc tablet in the management of sore throat following endotracheal intubation.  Materials & Method: This study included sixty-three patients who underwent surgical intervention with endotracheal intubation. All the patients were randomly assigned into two groups. Group I (test group) included patients who received dispersible zinc tablet 40 mg prophylactically 30 minutes before endotracheal intubation while Group II (control group) included patients who received placebo tablet 30 minutes before endotracheal intubation. Patients were evaluated for the incidence and severity of sore throat in the postoperative phase following endotracheal intubation, on a 4-point scale (0–3) at 0, 30 min, 2, 4, and 24 h postoperatively. The primary outcome variable was incidence of postoperative sore throat at 4 h postoperatively. Secondary outcome variable was severity of postoperative sore throat at the 5 evaluation time points postoperatively. MannWhitney U test, Fisher’s exact, and Chi-square test were used as applicable.  Results: At 4 h, there was a significantly lower incidence of postoperative sore throat in test group than the control group with a P value of 0.003. Three patients in control group complained of severe postoperative sore throat compared to none in the test group. The severity of postoperative sore throat was significantly lower in the test group than the control group at 0 min (P = 0.003), 30 min (P = 0.002), 2 h (P < 0.001), and 4 h (P = 0.001).  Conclusion: Prophylactic administration of 40 mg dispersible zinc tablet effectively reduces the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat following endotracheal intubation.

Keywords: Zinc, postoperative sore throat, endotracheal intubation.