Does the Stellate Ganglion Block Decrease the Postoperative Sore Throat?

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Decreased circulation of the tracheal mucosa caused by high intracuff pressure of endotracheal tube is responsible for increased incidence of postoperative sore throat. Stellate ganglion block (SGB) can improve the circulation of head and neck and upper extremities and affects postoperative sore throat. METHODS: Sixty female patients were randomly assigned to get unilateral SGB with 1% lidocaine (group I) or saline (group II). Intracuff pressures of endotracheal tube of all patients were maintained at around 50 mmHg during anesthesia. The frequency of sore throat and hoarseness, the severity of sore throat were estimated at arrival of recovery room and 6, 24, 48 hours after extubation. RESULTS: The incidence of sore throat was significant lower at only 6 hours after extubation in the Group I (P <0.05) than in Group II. There were no significant differences of the incidence of hoarseness or severity of sore throat between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was statistical significance of the incidence of postoperative sore throat in the SGB patients at 6 hours after extubation. However it may not be possible to alleviate the severity of sore throat with SGB.