Prevalence and risk factors of complication of endotracheal extubation in teaching hospitals affiliated with Jahrom University of medical science

Abstract

Endotracheal intubation is to maintain a safe open airway to prevent pulmonary aspiration by administrating general anesthesia. Endotracheal tube, as a foreign body, can stimulate the patients’ airway during the emergence from general anesthesia and cause various reactions and complications immediately or within a multi-day delay.

The present study intended to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of the complications of endotracheal extubation (removal of endotracheal tube / ETT) within 24 hrs. since the surgery. To this end, a descriptive research was conducted on 200 adult candidates for elective and emergency surgery of endotracheal intubation by administrating general anesthesia. Data about the intended associated risk factors and complications were respectively collected in operating room (OR) and within 24 hrs. since surgery and were recorded in the questionnaire. The results indicated that the prevalent complications were sore throat (%21), cough (%12.5) and hoarseness (%15.5). There was not any case of dysphagia and bloody sputum (blood-streaked expectorant). Also, there was a significant relationship between sore throat and the type of surgery (P˂0.001). On the other hand, there was not any statistically significant relationship between sore throat and other associated risk factors (sex, age, weight, type of surgery and size of endotracheal tube). Likewise, not any significant relationship was observed between cough, hoarseness and the intended risk factors. To conclude, the present study found that the type of surgery has a significant effect on the incidence of sore throat within 24 hrs. since the surgical operation; thus, raising awareness of these risk factors and taking proper actions, particularly during intubation, can reduce the incidence of complications, in particular sore throat, and improve patients’ satisfaction.

Keywords: General Anesthesia; Intubation; Complications