The Effect of Cold Vapor on Intubation-Related Symptoms and Comfort in the Early Postoperative Period

Overview

Endotracheal Intubation (EI) is performed in order to monitor the effectiveness of anesthesia and to control the patient's breathing during the surgery under general anesthesia. In EI, which is an invasive procedure, damage to the larynx and trachea may occur during the placement of the endotracheal tube or due to long-term use. Complications such as postintubation ulcer, laryngeal nerve paresis, arytenoid dislocation may develop in the early period due to EI, and patients may have complaints such as sore throat, swallowing problems, hoarseness, and cough in the postoperative period. This affects the comfort of the patients in the postoperative period. For this reason, it is important to prevent intubation-related symptoms of patients who will undergo surgical intervention before they occur.

Endotracheal Intubation (EI) is performed in order to monitor the effectiveness of anesthesia and to control the patient's breathing during the surgery under general anesthesia. In EI, which is an invasive procedure, damage to the larynx and trachea may occur during the placement of the endotracheal tube or due to long-term use. Complications such as postintubation ulcer, laryngeal nerve paresis, arytenoid dislocation may develop in the early period due to EI, and patients may have complaints such as sore throat, swallowing problems, hoarseness, and cough in the postoperative period. In addition, similar complaints may be encountered after extubation due to the displacement of the cuff of the EI and changes in the cuff pressure during the head and body positioning of the patient for surgical intervention after the EI. In the literature, studies examining the effect of intraoperative patient position on symptoms associated with postoperative intubation are limited. Baran Akkuş and Çaparlar (2020) evaluated the postoperative period of sore throat, hoarseness, dysphagia, and cough by controlling the cuff pressure in patients with hyperextension and supine position, and they did not find a significant difference between the groups. Although the severity of intubation-related complaints, which usually regress within 24 to 72 hours in the postoperative period, varies from patient to patient, it can affect the comfort of the patients in the early postoperative period. In the literature, there are many studies conducted to relieve the symptoms of sore throat, cough, hoarseness, and dysphagia in patients after extubation. In these studies, pharmacological analgesic agents such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, opioids, local anesthetics; different anesthetic techniques, the use of different sized endotracheal tubes, intubation after complete muscle relaxation, minimizing cuff pressure, and lubricating gels such as local anesthetics or oral lozenges, sprays and mouthwash solutions are used around or inside the intubation tube cuff. There are many studies in the literature on the successful application of non-pharmacological agents in the treatment of pain. Patients with post-operative throat complaints are recommended to take warm liquids, avoid solid food, suck ice chips, use lozenges, and apply 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 by inactivating trigger points in the muscles and helps to reduce muscle spasm. Thus, it reduces skin sensitivity by lowering the temperature of nerve fibers and receptors. Cold application is especially beneficial in post-traumatic pain, swelling, and muscle spasm. This affects the comfort of the patients in the postoperative period. For this reason, it is important to prevent intubation-related symptoms of patients who will undergo surgical intervention before they occur. Although it is seen in the literature that pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and herbal methods are applied to reduce postoperative sore throat, cough, hoarseness, and dysphagia, no study has been found examining the effect of the cold steam application on symptoms associated with IE.