Postoperative Sore Throat After Tracheal Intubation: An Updated Narrative Review and Call for Action

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Otolaryngology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a frequent complication following tracheal intubation.
• Despite its prevalence, POST is often underestimated due to its typically mild and self-limiting nature.
• This review synthesizes current knowledge on POST, focusing on its mechanisms, contributing factors, and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an updated narrative review of postoperative sore throat.
• To summarize the latest research on POST mechanisms, risk factors, and clinical assessment.
• To outline current and emerging prevention and treatment strategies for POST.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases.
• Keywords included "postoperative sore throat" and "tracheal intubation".
• Data was screened, synthesized, and analyzed by independent reviewers to identify relevant findings.

Main Results:

• The exact cause of POST is unknown, but likely involves inflammation from tracheal intubation and cuff pressure.
• Risk factors span preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods.
• Prevention strategies include pharmacological (NSAIDs, steroids), non-pharmacological (gentle intubation), and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches, with non-pharmacological methods showing promise.

Conclusions:

• Heightened clinical awareness of POST is recommended due to its high incidence post-tracheal intubation.
• Integrating POST prevention and management into routine clinical practice is advised.
• Further research is needed to elucidate TCM mechanisms and validate its efficacy for POST.