The Effect of Cold Vapor on Sore Throat and Dysphagia in the Early Postoperative Period After Suspension Laryngoscopy

Overview

Suspension laryngoscopy (SL) is a surgical procedure that is widely applied in the diagnosis and treatment of many benign or malignant diseases of the vocal cords and allows bimanual surgery of the endolarynx (Larner et al., 2019). In suspension laryngoscopy, a significant force is exerted on the tongue and neck tissues due to the abutment mechanism used to visualize the larynx and pharynx, which are located deeper than the oral cavity. This force causes symptoms such as sore throat, dysphagia, paresis, cough, taste disorder, oral injury, and hoarseness in the postoperative period (Larner et al., 2019; Tsang et al., 2020; Taliercio et al., 2017).In the literature, it has been reported that patients experience sore throat, cough, dysphagia, and hoarseness symptoms after suspension laryngoscopy (Larner et al., 2019; Taliercio et al., 2017; Okui et al., 2020). Pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods can be applied to prevent sore throat and dysphagia after suspension laryngoscopy. The interventions that start while the patient is still in the recovery room to prevent postoperative sore throat and swallowing difficulties are the responsibility of the recovery unit nurses. Being aware of the problems such as sore throat and swallowing difficulties experienced by patients after suspension laryngoscopy, effective nursing practices should be developed to prevent these problems and their possible consequences. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the effect of cold vapor on sore throat and dysphagia in the early postoperative period after suspension laryngoscopy.

Suspension laryngoscopy (SL) is a surgical procedure that is widely applied in the diagnosis and treatment of many benign or malignant diseases of the vocal cords and allows bimanual surgery of the endolarynx (Larner et al., 2019).In order to prevent any pain and gag reflex, the patients are placed in the supine position, neck hyperextension and head supported position on the operating table for the intervention performed under general anesthesia. With this position, it is aimed to place the microlaryngoscope and to ensure the patient's throat opening (Tsang et al., 2020; Taliercio et al., 2017). In suspension laryngoscopy, a significant force is exerted on the tongue and neck tissues due to the abutment mechanism used to visualize the larynx and pharynx, which are located deeper than the oral cavity. This force causes symptoms such as sore throat, dysphagia, paresis, cough, taste disorder, oral injury, and hoarseness in the postoperative period (Larner et al., 2019; Tsang et al., 2020; Taliercio et al., 2017).In a study examining the complications experienced by patients after suspension laryngoscopy in the literature, Okui et al. reported that 66% of the patients experienced at least one complication, the most common complication was sore throat with 40%, and tongue numbness with 13.8%, cough with 13.4%, oral injuries with 11.5%, and taste disorders with 11.5% (Okui et al., 2020). In another study, it was reported that the most common postoperative complaints after suspension laryngoscopy were sore throat in 29% and hoarseness in 23% of the patients, while other less common symptoms were cough, frequent throat clearing, intermittent ear pain, and globus sensation (Larner et al., 2019). In another study, it was reported that 76% of the patients described a sore throat that continued for 3 days after the surgery, and that 36% of them continued after the 3rd day after the surgery (Taliercio et al., 2017). Pharmacological analgesic agents are frequently used to relieve symptoms of sore throat and dysphagia that occur in patients after suspension laryngoscopy (Jung and Kimm, 2013; Paltura et al., 2020). In the literature, there are many studies on the successful application of non-pharmacological agents in the treatment of pain (Bulut et al., 2016; Şahbaz and Khorshid, 2020; Zaman and Karahan, 2020; Guidelenes on the Management of Postoperative Pain, Management of Postoperative Pain, 2016). Patients with post-operative throat complaints are recommended practices that reduce complaints such as taking warm liquids, not taking solid food, sucking ice chips, using lozenges, and applying steam. The cold application creates vasoconstriction in the vessels in the area where it is applied, decreases the metabolic rate, and reduces edema. The cold application reduces muscle temperature by reducing the tension sensitivity of muscle spindles with the reflex effect of heat receptors or inactivating trigger points in the muscles and helps to reduce muscle spasm. Thus, it decreases skin sensitivity by lowering the temperature of nerve fibers and receptors. Cold application is especially useful in post-traumatic pain, swelling, and muscle spasm. Although it is seen that pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and herbal methods are applied to reduce postoperative sore throat and dysphagia in the literature, no study has been found examining the effect of cold vapor on sore throat and dysphagia. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the effect of cold vapor on sore throat and dysphagia in the early postoperative period after suspension laryngoscopy.