Correlation between extraction force during tracheal intubation stylet removal and postoperative sore throat.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine postoperative sore throat resulting from tracheal intubation stylet removal.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: Operating rooms and hospital ward.

PATIENTS: A total of 50 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 and 2 patients who underwent elective abdominal and/or orthopedic surgery under general anesthesia.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients were allocated to 2 groups: those who developed sore throat postoperatively (ST group) and those who did not (NST group). Comparative analysis of these 2 groups was performed to identify risk factors of the development of sore throat.

MEASUREMENTS: The extraction force during stylet removal was measured using a force measuring device. Postoperative sore throat was assessed by an anesthesiologist.

MAIN RESULTS: Nine patients (18%) complained of postoperative sore throat. Increased extraction force (P=.0054; odds ratio, 1.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-2.84) was the only significant risk factor for the development of postoperative sore throat. An extraction force of >10.3N was determined as a cutoff for developing postoperative sore throat.

CONCLUSION: Postoperative sore throat was significantly related to increased extraction force during stylet removal.