Purpose: We evaluated the prophylactic effect of benzydamine hydrochloride (BH) spray on postoperative sore throat and hoarseness secondary to intubation with a double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT).
Methods: Ninety-two adult patients undergoing thoracic surgery using DLT intubation were studied. The DLT cuff and oropharyngeal cavity were sprayed with normal saline (Group S; n = 46) or BH (Group BH; n = 46) prior to intubation. Postoperative sore throat and hoarseness were evaluated at one, six, and 24 hr after surgery. Sore throat was evaluated using a 0-100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Hoarseness was defined as a change in voice quality.
Results: Compared with Group S, postoperative sore throat occurred less frequently in Group BH at one hour (mean difference, 28.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.7 to 45.1; P = 0.01), at six hours (mean difference, 32.6%; 95% CI, 12.6 to 49.2; P < 0.01), and at 24 hr (mean difference, 28.3%; 95% CI, 9.3 to 44.7; P = 0.01) after surgery. Group BH had lower VAS scores for postoperative sore throat at one hour (mean difference, 12.8; 95% CI, 4.9 to 20.7), at six hours (mean difference, 11.9; 95% CI, 4.8 to 19.1; P < 0.01), and at 24 hr (mean difference, 5.3; 95% CI, 0.9 to 9.7; P = 0.01) after surgery. Hoarseness also occurred less frequently in Group BH at one hour (mean difference, 23.9%; 95% CI, 6.8 to 39.6; P = 0.01), at six hours (mean difference, 23.9%; 95% CI, 7.4 to 39.3; P = 0.01), and at 24 hr (mean difference, 21.7%; 95% CI, 5.5 to 37.0; P = 0.02) after surgery (P < 0.01).
Conclusions: Prophylactic application of BH to the DLT cuff and oropharyngeal cavity reduces the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat and the incidence of hoarseness associated with DLT intubation. The trial was registered at the Clinical Research Information Service (KCT0001068).