Postoperative throat discomfort and associated factors among elective surgical patients at Ethiopian Teaching Hospitals

Introduction Throat pain and airway discomfort are the most commonly upsetting conditions of the patients’ wellbeing after surgery. However; little is known about the problem and associated factors. Objective To assess the magnitude, severity and associated factors of throat discomfort within 24 hours after surgery. Design F acility-based cross-sectional study was employed from July 01 to December 30, 2021. Data was extracted through patient interview and document review during the postoperative period. Setting The study was conducted at Ambo university referral hospital. On average, about six major elective surgical procedures are performed each day with a total of >1800 patients per year. The patients were scheduled from Orthopedic and trauma, General Surgery, Gynecologic, and Obstetric surgery department. Participant Using systematic sampling technique 370 elective surgical patients were recruited (k=2) and 36 were excluded from analysis; with incomplete data. Result The majority 63.2% (211) of the participants were females with a mean age of 35.7 + 9.7 years. The overall postoperative throat discomfort were observed in 122 (36.5%) and it were severe in 20.5% of them. However; the severity level declined over time 21.9% (21/96), 15.3% (18/118) and 5.6% (5/89); on the 1st, 6th hour and 24th hour, respectively. Utilization of larger ETT (AOR= 6.288, P= 0.001), surgery lasting > 2hours (AOR= 10.839, P= 0.000), awake extubation (AOR= 0.155, P=0.000), frequent episodes of hypotension (AOR= 13.220, P= 0.001), and less experienced anesthetist (AOR= 18.571, P=0.000); were significantly associated with throat discomfort. Conclusion Post-extubation throat discomfort complaints are high (36.5%). Due attention has to be given to minimize or prevent perioperative frequent episodes of hypotension, higher ETT size utilization, blood loss, and duration of surgery as much as possible. Patient reassurance with analgesia and orientation has to be considered during the postoperative time.