ASSESSMENT AND COMPARISION OF LARYNGOTRACHEAL MORBIDITY BY INFLATING ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE (ETT) CUFF WITH AIR, 0.9% SALINE, 1% PROPOFOL AND HYDROCORTISONE

Abstract

Background and aim: Endotracheal intubation while administering general anaesthesia and inflation of the cuff with air is a common practice. Continuous pressure exerted by cuff on mucosa may lead to postoperative complaints such as sore throat, cough, and dysphagia, which are very disturbing to the patient. Hence, we hypothesized that inflation of cuff with propofol may reduce the incidence of these complications as a result of cushioning effect as well as nondiffusion of nitrous oxide into it. Our aim was to compare the effects of inflation of endotracheal tube cuff with 0.9% saline, 4% lignocaine, and 1% propofol on the incidence of postoperative laryngotracheal morbidity in terms of cough, sore throat, dysphagia and hoarseness of voice with general anaesthesia. Methods: Patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated into four groups of thirty each according to cuff inflation media: air (Group A), 0.9% saline (Group S), 1% propofol (Group P) and hydrocortisone (Group HC). The incidence of cough was noted at 15, 30 and 60 min intervals after extubation. The occurrence and severity of postoperative sore throat (POST) was evaluated at 2, 6, and 24 h after extubating. Results: The incidence of cough was maximum in Group A and minimum in Group P (P < 0.05). The occurrence of POST was highest in Group A, followed by Group S and Group HC, and least in Group P. The hemodynamic parameters were comparable with no statistical difference in all the four groups. Conclusion: 1% propofol is found to be superior to hydrocortisone and normal saline in the prevention of cough and sore throat postoperatively, when compared to air.