Comparative evaluation of preoperative paracetamol and a combination of paracetamol with nebulised or intravenous dexamethasone for prevention of postoperative sore throat

Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a common complication following general anaesthesia which is distressing to the patient. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid with potent analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiemetic action. Paracetamol is an effective analgesic and antipyretic agent commonly used for intraoperative and postoperative analgesia. The present study plans to  evaluate the effect of preoperative administration  of paracetamol and a combination of paracetamol with nebulised or intravenous  dexamethasone for prevention of postoperative sore throat. The study hypothesis is that a combination of intravenous paracetamol with  nebulised or  intravenous  dexamethasone is superior to intravenous  preoperative paracetamol alone in decreasing the incidence of   postoperative sore throat in adult patients undergoing elective  laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation. The aim of this study is to  evaluate the effect of preoperative administration  of paracetamol and a combination of paracetamol with nebulised or intravenous  dexamethasone for prevention of postoperative sore throat, hoarseness of voice and cough in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation. Patients will be randomised into one of the three study groups ( 50 patients in each group)with the help of computer generated random number table in blocks of ten.  

Group P: Patients will receive nebulised normal saline (5 ml) + IV normal saline (5ml) + IV paracetamol 1g infusion. Group I: Patients will receive nebulised normal saline (5 ml) + IV dexamethasone 8mg (5ml) + IV paracetamol 1g infusion. Group N: Patients will receive nebulised dexamethasone 8mg (5ml) + IV Normal saline (5ml) + IV Paracetamol 1g infusion.