The Effect of Cold Vapor on Intubation-Related Symptoms and Comfort in the Early Postoperative Period

The Effect of Cold Vapor on Intubation-Related Symptoms and Comfort in the Early Postoperative Period

The Effect of Cold Vapor on Intubation-Related Symptoms and Comfort in the Early Postoperative Period

Endotracheal Intubation (EI) is performed in order to monitor the effectiveness of anesthesia and to control the patient's breathing during the surgery under general anesthesia. In EI, which is an invasive procedure, damage to the larynx and trachea may occur during the placement of the endotracheal tube or due to long-term use. Complications such as postintubation ulcer, laryngeal nerve paresis, arytenoid dislocation may develop in the early period due to EI, and patients may have complaints such as sore throat, swallowing problems, hoarseness, and cough in the postoperative period. This affects the comfort of the patients in the postoperative period. For this reason, it is important to prevent intubation-related symptoms of patients who will undergo surgical intervention before they occur.

Endotracheal Intubation (EI) is performed in order to monitor the effectiveness of anesthesia and to control the patient's breathing during the surgery under general anesthesia. In EI, which is an invasive procedure, damage to the larynx and trachea may occur during the placement of the endotracheal tube or due to long-term use. Complications such as postintubation ulcer, laryngeal nerve paresis, arytenoid dislocation may develop in the early period due to EI, and patients may have complaints such as sore throat, swallowing problems, hoarseness, and cough in the postoperative period. In addition, similar complaints may be encountered after extubation due to the displacement of the cuff of the EI and changes in the cuff pressure during the head and body positioning of the patient for surgical intervention after the EI. In the literature, studies examining the effect of intraoperative patient position on symptoms associated with postoperative intubation are limited. Baran Akkuş and Çaparlar (2020) evaluated the postoperative period of sore throat, hoarseness, dysphagia, and cough by controlling the cuff pressure in patients with hyperextension and supine position, and they did not find a significant difference between the groups. Although the severity of intubation-related complaints, which usually regress within 24 to 72 hours in the postoperative period, varies from patient to patient, it can affect the comfort of the patients in the early postoperative period. In the literature, there are many studies conducted to relieve the symptoms of sore throat, cough, hoarseness, and dysphagia in patients after extubation. In these studies, pharmacological analgesic agents such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, opioids, local anesthetics; different anesthetic techniques, the use of different sized endotracheal tubes, intubation after complete muscle relaxation, minimizing cuff pressure, and lubricating gels such as local anesthetics or oral lozenges, sprays and mouthwash solutions are used around or inside the intubation tube cuff. There are many studies in the literature on the successful application of non-pharmacological agents in the treatment of pain. Patients with post-operative throat complaints are recommended to take warm liquids, avoid solid food, suck ice chips, use lozenges, and apply steam. The cold application creates vasoconstriction in the vessels in the area where it is applied, decreases the metabolic rate, and reduces edema. The cold application reduces muscle temperature by reducing the tension sensitivity of muscle spindles with the reflex effect of heat receptors or by inactivating trigger points in the muscles and helps to reduce muscle spasm. Thus, it reduces skin sensitivity by lowering the temperature of nerve fibers and receptors. Cold application is especially beneficial in post-traumatic pain, swelling, and muscle spasm. This affects the comfort of the patients in the postoperative period. For this reason, it is important to prevent intubation-related symptoms of patients who will undergo surgical intervention before they occur. Although it is seen in the literature that pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and herbal methods are applied to reduce postoperative sore throat, cough, hoarseness, and dysphagia, no study has been found examining the effect of the cold steam application on symptoms associated with IE.

Patients who were hospitalized for surgical intervention in the supine and prone position and met the sample selection criteria will be included in the experimental and control groups by block randomization method using the random numbers table on the computer.

Cold vapor will be applied to the prone position experimental group patients for 15 minutes in the recovery room. For the study, Nebtime UN600A Ultrasonic Nebulizer Device will be used to apply cold steam to the patients which used in the hospital and calibrated (https://elmaslarmedikal.com.tr/urunler/nebtimeun600aultrasonik-nebulizator/). The parameters to be set on the device for the cold vapor to be applied to the patients in the early postoperative period will be vapor intensity level 5 (1-10), air blowing intensity 5 (1-10), heater intensity 1 (+10C), and timer 15 minutes. The patients will be evaluated by the researchers in terms of sore throat, cough, hoarseness, and dysphagia before and 15 minutes after the cold vapor application in the recovery room and at the 6th, 12th, and 24th hours after the cold vapor application in the postoperative service. In addition, the comfort levels of the patients will be evaluated at the 24th postoperative hour.

Cold vapor will be applied to the supine position experimental group patients for 15 minutes in the recovery room. For the study, Nebtime UN600A Ultrasonic Nebulizer Device will be used to apply cold steam to the patients which used in the hospital and calibrated (https://elmaslarmedikal.com.tr/urunler/nebtimeun600aultrasonik-nebulizator/). The parameters to be set on the device for the cold vapor to be applied to the patients in the early postoperative period will be vapor intensity level 5 (1-10), air blowing intensity 5 (1-10), heater intensity 1 (+10C), and timer 15 minutes. The patients will be evaluated by the researchers in terms of sore throat, cough, hoarseness, and dysphagia before and 15 minutes after the cold vapor application in the recovery room and at the 6th, 12th, and 24th hours after the cold vapor application in the postoperative service. In addition, the comfort levels of the patients will be evaluated at the 24th postoperative hour.

Patients in the prone position control group will receive standard care that includes all medical and non-medical treatments in the hospital. Nursing care, which is routinely applied to patients in the postoperative period, both in the recovery room and in the service, will be continued within the standard care. The patients will be evaluated by the researchers in terms of sore throat, cough, hoarseness, and dysphagia when they come to the recovery room and at the 6th,12th, and 24th hours after the surgery in the postoperative service. In addition, the comfort levels of the patients will be evaluated at the 24th postoperative hour.

Patients in the supine position control group will receive standard care that includes all medical and non-medical treatments in the hospital. Nursing care, which is routinely applied to patients in the postoperative period, both in the recovery room and in the service, will be continued within the standard care. The patients will be evaluated by the researchers in terms of sore throat, cough, hoarseness, and dysphagia when they come to the recovery room and at the 6th,12th, and 24th hours after the surgery in the postoperative service. In addition, the comfort levels of the patients will be evaluated at the 24th postoperative hour.

Before surgery, the socio-demographic data of the patients will be recorded. After surgery, patients will be evaluated in the recovery room for their suitability to participate in the study with the Ramsay sedation scale and the Modified Aldrete Scale. Cold vapor will be applied to the patients for 15 minutes in the recovery room during the postoperative period. The parameters to be set on the device for the cold vapor to be applied to the patients in the early postoperative period will be vapor intensity level 5, air blowing intensity 5, heater intensity 1 (+10C), and timer 15 minutes. The patients will be evaluated by the researchers in terms of sore throat, cough, hoarseness, and dysphagia before and 15 minutes after the cold vapor application in the recovery room and at the 6th,12th, and 24th hours after the cold vapor application in the postoperative service. In addition, the comfort levels of the patients will be evaluated at the 24th postoperative hour.

The sore throat, one of the intubation-related symptoms of the patients who underwent cold vapor, is decreased compared to those who do not. A score between 0 and 10 is taken from the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). It is good that the score on the scales has decreased.

The cough, one of the intubation-related symptoms of the patients who underwent cold vapor, is decreased compared to those who do not. A score between 0 and 4 is taken from the Cough Severity Form (CSF). It is good that the score on the scales has decreased.

Swallowing, one of the intubation-related symptoms of the patients who underwent cold vapor, is decreased compared to those who do not. A score between 0 and 24 is taken from the Swallowing Impairment Score (SIS). It is good that the score on the scales has decreased.

The hoarseness, one of the intubation-related symptoms of the patients who underwent cold vapor, is decreased compared to those who do not. A score between 0 and 3 is taken from the Shout's Hoarseness Scale (SHS). It is good that the score on the scales has decreased.

The Perianesthesia Comfort Scale (PCS) of the patients for comfort who underwent cold vapor is decreased compared to those who do not. A score between 24 and 144 is taken from the PCS. It is good that the score from the PCS has increased.

Inclusion Criteria: Being 18 years or older Having an ASA score of 1-2 Not having any respiratory problems before the operation Not having a neurological disease related to swallowing Not having a sore throat due to cancer and chronic diseases Not having hoarseness before surgery With endotracheal intubation, the duration of the operation is at least 60 minutes under general anesthesia. Having surgery in one of the prone and supine positions Getting 2 points from the Ramsay Sedation Scale in the postoperative recovery room. Having a Modified Aldrete score of at least 9 in the postoperative recovery room To be willing to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: To undergo emergency surgery Being under the age of 18 Having an ASA score of 3 and above Having any respiratory problems in the preoperative period Having a neurological disease related to swallowing Having a sore throat due to cancer and chronic diseases Having throat surgery The duration of the operation is less than 60 minutes Having surgery in a position other than the prone and supine positions Not agreeing to participate in the study.

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