Effectiveness and safety of the routinely use of throat packs in ENT surgery

Petri, A. (Annefleur) (2013) Effectiveness and safety of the routinely use of throat packs in ENT surgery. thesis, Medicine.

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Abstract

Introduction: Throat packs are routinely placed in (para)nasal surgery, based on the assumption they prevent postoperative nausea and/or vomiting (PONV) by preventing blood and wound debris to run into the hypopharynx and being swallowed. Literature suggests a throat pack does not lower the incidence of PONV, but does cause more postoperative throat pain. In addition a throat pack bares possible dangers, such as postoperative asphyxia. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of a throat pack on the incidence and severity of postoperative throat pain. Influence of insertion mode (manual vs. under direct vision) was also addressed. Lastly, incidence and severity of PONV were evaluated to get an impression of the effectiveness of throat packs. Methods: We designed an observational prospective trial comparing the research group of (para)nasal surgery patients in whom a throat pack is used with a control group of diverse surgery patients, also operated under general anaesthesia and endotracheal intubated. Incidence and severity of throat pain and PONV were recorded directly postoperative and 24 hours postoperative. Results: A throat pack increases the chance on suffering from throat pain (OR 2.4) due to a higher incidence directly postoperative. Throat pain was severe both directly postoperative and 24 hours postoperative when a throat pack was placed. No statistical significant differences were found in incidence and severity of PONV, neither between research and control group nor between modes of inserting the throat pack. Conclusion: A throat pack causes significantly more and severe postoperative throat pain than endotracheal intubation alone. Insertion mode does not influence the effectiveness of hypopharyngeal packing. PONV incidence and severity after (para)nasal surgery with a routinely placed throat pack does not differ from a general surgery population, suggesting the throat pack is effective in preventing PONV evoked by blood in the stomach.

Item Type:	Thesis (Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Cobben, drs. J.M.G. and Deventer Hospital
Faculty:	Medical Sciences
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2020 10:44
Last Modified:	25 Jun 2020 10:44
URI:	https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/534

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