The effect of cooled endotracheal tubes on postoperative sore throat: a randomized controlled study

Aim To evaluate the effect of cooled endotracheal tubes on the incidence of postoperative sore throat, hoarseness, coughing, and dysphagia after endotracheal intubation. Methods This randomized controlled trial enrolled patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation at Adana Dr Turgut Noyan Hospital between April and September 2023. The patients were randomly assigned to be intubated with endotracheal tubes refrigerated at +4 °C for 4-6 hours before intubation (n = 66) or with endotracheal tubes kept at the operating room temperature (+20-23 °C) (n = 70). The incidence of sore throat, hoarseness, coughing, and dysphagia was recorded at 1, 4, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. Results The groups did not significantly differ in the incidence of sore throat, hoarseness, and coughing at 1 hour and 24 hours. They also did not differ in the incidence of dysphagia at 24 hours. Conclusion Cooled endotracheal tubes are not superior to tubes kept at operating room temperature in reducing postoperative sore throat, hoarseness, coughing, or dysphagia.