Prevalence and Risk Factors for Postoperative Thirst Intensity in Adult Patients Following General Anesthesia: A...

To explore the prevalence and risk factors of mild, moderate, and severe postoperative thirst in adult patients and provide evidence for identifying postoperative thirst degree and graded management of postoperative thirst.

This study employed a cross-sectional design.

Between January and September 2024, a convenience sample of 1,558 participants was recruited at a hospital in China. The clinical data collection form, the Perioperative Thirst Discomfort Scale, the Sedation-Agitation Scale, and the Numeric Rating Scale were used to investigate. The χ² and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to analyze the correlation between each factor and postoperative thirst intensity. Finally, an ordered logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for postoperative thirst intensity. The STROBE checklist was used to report this study.

Of the 1,624 patients who underwent general anesthesia surgery, 1,558 participants (aged 18 years or older) with complete questionnaire and assessment data were included. There were 1,491 cases of postoperative thirst. The prevalence of postoperative thirst among these patients was 95.7%. Among these patients experiencing postoperative thirst, 29.2% reported mild thirst, 46.3% moderate thirst, and 24.5% severe thirst. Operative time, intubation method, and butorphanol tartrate injection were essential factors influencing the intensity of thirst after operation in adults.

Postoperative thirst is a prevalent and intense symptom. The medical staff must implement personalized interventions for patients with varying degrees of postoperative thirst, considering the influencing factors. This approach is expected to enhance patient satisfaction, expedite rehabilitation, and optimize the utilization of medical resources.