EVALUATION OF CLINICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL RELATIONS OF POSTOPERATIVE THROAT FINDINGS IN PATIENTS UNDERWENT GENERAL ANESTHESIA

Methods: Patients undergoing surgery apart from oropharyngeal, laryngotracheal or nasal regions were included in the study; those with chronic laryngopharyngitis, smokers, those with sore throat before surgery, those requiring multiple trial of intubation and those with delayed extubation after surgery were excluded. Age, gender, duration of intubated state, tube size and anesthetic agents used were recorded in all patients. In addition, endoscopic oropharyngeal and laryngeal examinations were performed on the before surgery and postoperative hour 24. symptoms of sore throat were questioned and pain scale was recorded on the hour 24 before surgery. Smear sample was obtained from nasopharynx wall before and after surgery. Samples were evaluated by Multiplex PCR assay which can detected 33 respiratory microorganisms. The relationship between microorganisms detected in preoperative and postoperative period, sore throat score and endoscopic examination findings were assessed and compared statistically.

Results: There were 40 patient who had inclusion criteria, aged between 18 - 65 years. There were abnormal examination findings in 55% and microorganism growth in 17.5% at postoperative period. No significant correlation was detected between abnormal postoperative examination findings and duration of intubated state while a significant correlation with postoperative sore throat score. No significant correlation was found between postoperative pain scoring and microorganism growth.

Conclusion: In this study, a relationship was found between postoperative throat findings and sore throat score but not in microbiological context. Keywords : Endoscopy, sore throat, surgery, PCR