Comparison of Nebulized Ketamine with Nebulized Magnesium Sulfate on the Incidence of Postoperative Sore Throat

BACKGROUND: Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a known complication following general anesthesia requiring endotracheal intubation. Its incidence ranges from 21% to 65% and remains the eighth most undesirable postoperative event. Various measures have been tried to decrease the incidence of sore throat with various success rates. AIM: This study aimed at reducing the incidence of POST with ketamine and magnesium sulfate nebulization. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study is a prospective randomized, double-blinded study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After Institutional Ethics Committee approval and written informed consent, 80 patients who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups to receive magnesium sulfate 250 mg in 5 ml saline in Group A and ketamine 50 mg in 5 ml saline nebulization in Group B before the start of general anesthesia. All patients received standard anesthesia protocol. After extubation, all patients were enquired about the incidence and severity of sore throat at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 24 h. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare hemodynamic variables and Chi-square test to compare the incidence and severity of sore throat. RESULTS: There were no differences in the demographic profile, duration of laryngoscopy, time taken to intubate, and duration of surgery between the two groups. The incidence and severity of sore throat were significantly decreased in ketamine group at 4 and 6 h when compared to magnesium sulfate group. CONCLUSION: Nebulization with ketamine 50 mg significantly decreases the incidence of POST when compared to magnesium sulfate 250 mg.