Context: Postoperative sore throat (POST) occurs in 21%-65% of patients. Nebulization of ketamine reduces POST.
Aims: The aim of this study is to see the effectiveness of nebulized ketamine in different doses to reduce POST and observe adverse effects, if any.
Settings and design: This was a prospective, randomized, and double-blind controlled trial. One hundred and fifty patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Classes I and II, in the age group of 18-60 years, of either sex, undergoing surgery under general anesthesia were randomized into three groups.
Subjects and methods: Patients had nebulized with 5 ml solution (Group K1 - 1 ml of ketamine [50 mg/ml] +4 ml normal saline, Group K2 - 0.5 ml of ketamine [50 mg/ml] +4.5 normal saline, and Group S - 5 ml normal saline). Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative hemodynamic monitoring was done. The POST monitoring was done at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h postoperatively. POST was graded on a four-point scale (0-3).
Statistical analysis used: Chi-square test using MSTAT software for POST and ANOVA test using INDOSTAT software for hemodynamics were used in this study.
Results: The overall incidence of POST in the present study was 29.33% (44/150). In Group S, the incidence of POST was observed to be 46% (23/50). In Group K1, the incidence was 20% (10/50), and in Group K2, it was 22% (11/50) (P ≤ 0.05), and intraoperative vital signs were more stable at all time intervals.
Conclusions: We concluded that both doses (25 and 50 mg) of nebulized ketamine were almost equally effective in preventing POST, with no adverse effects.
Keywords: Ketamine nebulization; pharyngitis; postoperative sore throat.