AbstractBackground: Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a common complaint during postoperative period after tracheal intubation. We evaluated and compared the effects of preoperative ketamine or tramadol nebulization on POST in patients undergoing general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation.
Methods: Sixty patients, aged 18-60 years of ASA status 1 & 2 scheduled for elective surgery lasting upto 2 hours under general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation were randomly divided into two groups; Group K: patients received Ketamine 50 mg (1 ml) with normal saline (4 ml) nebulisation, Group T: patients received Tramadol 50 mg (1 ml) with normal saline (4 ml) nebulization 30 min before induction. Incidence of postoperative sore throat and its intensity, nausea vomiting, sedation and any side effects of drugs were recorded.
Result: No significant difference was observed in the incidence of postoperative sore throat between the ketamine group and tramadol group patients. Severity of POST was higher in group T as compared to group K but it was statistically insignificant. Nausea, vomiting and sedation incidence was comparable in both groups.
Conclusion: Preoperative nebulisation with ketamine is clinically more effective than tramadol nebulization in prevention of postoperative sore throat.