Comparing the Efficacy of Benzydamine and Magnesium Sulphate Oral Gargle for Treating Postoperative Sore Throat in Patients Undergoing breast surgeries – A phase 2 randomised study

Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a common and distressing complication following endotracheal intubation during surgery with an incidence ranging from 14% to 63%. Multiple studies have been done for prevention of sore throat after tracheal intubation using topical agents such as lignocaine, steroids, benzydamine, magnesium sulphate, ketamine, dexmedetomidine and nonpharmacological measures like cuff pressure maintenance, avoidance of N2O, smaller tracheal tubes. Topical benzydamine hydrochloride and magnesium sulphate application has significantly reduced the sore throat incidence upto 24 hours with no major complications. There is paucity of literature or publications regarding the management of POST. Most of the studies discuss prevention of sore throat using topical solutions.  Currently no standard treatment guidelines exist  for managing postoperative sore throat. Most often it is neglected or managed conservatively using saline nebulisation and reassurance. When comparing saline nebulization to other topical agents, studies generally show that saline nebulization alone does not significantly reduce the incidence or severity of POST. Addressing POST will help improving the overall quality of anaesthesia care. There are no studies to validate the superiority or inferiority between magnesium and benzydamine oral gargle. This study is an attempt to assess the feasibility of application of these two agents in managing postoperative sore throat in patients undergoing breast surgeries under general anaesthesia.