Background: Many factors in tracheal intubation lead to postoperative sore throat from mucosal injury. Mometasone furoate spray is a moderate potency corticosteroid that prevents influx of inflammatory cells into the mucosa. The present study assessed the efficacy of this drug for reducing postoperative sore throat.

Material and Method: A prospective, randomized, double blind, controlled study was completed. Forty-two patients undergoing general surgery with general anesthesia were randomized into two groups, momethasone and NSS group sprayed at the endotracheal tube cuff, vocal cords, epiglottis and pharynx at the time of tracheal intubation. All the patients were evaluated on the incidence and severity of the sore throat at first, sixth, and 24 hour after surgery.

Results: The sore throat after tracheal intubation was significantly less severe after momethasone spray was used than after NSS was used at first, sixth and 24 hours after surgery. The incidences of sore throat in the momethasone group were also significantly fewer than in the SS group at sixth and 24 hour post operation (20% vs. 50% and 10% vs. 40%, respectively) but at the first hour that the incidence was not significantly different (40% vs. 75%). Number needed to treat at the first hour was 2.86, sixth hour was 3.33 and 24 hour was 3.33.

Conclusion: Application of mometasone spray reduces postoperative sore throat after tracheal intubation.

Keywords: Sore throat, Endotracheal intubation, Mometasone spray