ABSTRACT
Post-operative sorethroat (POST) is a well-recognized complication in patients with endotracheal intubation for general anaesthesia. Many pharmacological measures for attenuating POST are being used during anaesthesia. In our study we compared the effectiveness of ketamine and benzydamine hydrochloride versus a placebo as preoperative gargle in decresing the incidence and severity of POST in patients undergoing endotracheal intubation for general anaesthesia. Methods: A total of 90 patients aged between 18-60 years of ASA I-II of either sex were randomly assigned into three groups of 30 patients each . Group 1(C) received distilled water,group2(BH) received 15 ml of benzydamine hcl(0.15%) and group 3(K) received preservative free ketamine 40 mg as preoperative gargle 10 min before induction. The incid- ence of POST was recorded at 2,4 and 24 hr post operatively. Results: The three groups were comparable in term of demographic characteristics. The incidence and severity of POST is much more in group 1(C) i.e control group (30%) after 24 hr compared to group 2 (BH) 0% and group 3(K)3.5%. There was no significant difference of POST in group 2(BH) and group 3(K). Conclusion: From our study it can be concluded that both benzydamine and ketamine gargle significantly reduces the incidence and severity of POST compared to ditilled water gargle up to 24 hr in the patients undergoing general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Both the Benzydamine and ketamine gargles are safe, simple and equally effective in reducing POST.