Comparison of the effect of intra-cuff normal saline, dexamethasone or ketamine for prevention of postoperative sore throat: A randomized controlled trial.
Brazilian journal of anesthesiology (Elsevier) June 13, 2025 Arun Mukesh, Ankur Sharma, Priyabrat Karan et al.
Postoperative sore throat (POST) is common after surgeries requiring a breathing tube and can cause patient discomfort and delayed discharge. In a randomized trial of 405 adults undergoing short pelvic laparoscopic surgery, intra-cuff dexamethasone reduced POST symptoms more effectively than intra-cuff ketamine or normal saline. At 2 hours after extubation, 92.59% of patients receiving dexamethasone had no POST symptoms, compared with 74.07% for ketamine and 67.41% for saline. Dexamethasone also led to the lowest rates of postoperative hoarseness and cough across all measured time points. Intra-cuff dexamethasone appears to be a favorable option for relieving POST, hoarseness, and cough in the early postoperative period.