Comparison of the Efficiency of Two Different Methods in Managing Early Postoperative Thirst

Comparison of the Efficacy of Ice and Soaked Gauze in Managing Early Postoperative Thirst

Postoperative thirst is one of the most common problems in patients. Thirst is a subjective symptom. Thirst can cause unwanted problems in patients such as anxiety, discomfort and nausea. It may even cause anxiety, hypertension, dysrhythmia, non-compliance with treatment and increased need for anesthesia. Although different methods have been applied in the management of thirst in the existing literature and positive results have been obtained, studies with high evidence value are very limited. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two different methods in thirst management.

In this study, the investigators compared the effectiveness of two of the methods proposed in the literature for the relief of postoperative thirst.

These methods are ice application and wet gauze. A numerical comparison scale was used to assess and monitor thirst (0=no thirst, 10=worst perceived thirst).

In patients with a thirst score of 4 and above in the early postoperative period, the duration of thirst severity and the method of quenching thirst with oral ice or wet gauze impregnation were compared. In addition, a control group without any intervention was included. The thirst conditions of these three groups were compared.

A total of 240 patients, 80 in each group, were included in the study. Oral ice was applied in one group, wet gauze in the second group and no intervention was applied in the third group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged 18-65 years
• undergoing elective surgery
• Patients undergoing surgery other than gastrointestinal system surgery
• Patients in class I, II, III according to the American anesthesiologists' association classification (ASA)
• Patients who have completed a minimum of 6 hours of strict fasting and 3 hours of thirst
• Patients who can verbally express a thirst level of 4 points or more according to visual benchmark scale in the early postoperative period
• Patients who comply with the safety protocol in the early postoperative period
• Patients who can express their thirst in the early postoperative period/recovery unit
• Patients with a duration of surgical anesthesia ≥1 hour and taken to the recovery unit at the end of surgery will be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Emergency planned surgeries
• Patients who had a second surgical intervention during the hospitalization period
• Patients who need intensive care after surgery
• Patients with problems in the extubation process after surgery
• Patients with altered state of consciousness after surgery
• Patients with fluid electrolyte imbalance (hypovolemia and sodium imbalance)
• Patients with swallowing difficulties and fluid intake restriction
• Foreign patients with language barriers
• Patients with menthol allergy
• Patients with problems in the head, neck, throat and mouth will be excluded from the sample.
• Women who have just given birth and are breastfeeding.