The Effect of Menthol Ice and Frozen Saline Applications After Lumbar Disc Surgery

The Effect of Menthol Ice and Frozen Saline Applications on Patients' Thirst and Sore Throat After Lumbar Disc Surgery

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of postoperative menthol ice and frozen saline applications on thirst and sore throat in patients undergoing lumbar disc surgery.

In the postoperative period, patients become susceptible to many complications that may develop due to general anaesthesia, endotracheal intubation, surgical intervention and clinical conditions. One of the conditions that patients experience quite intensely in the postoperative period and which is usually ignored in clinics is the feeling of thirst. Another problem that may occur in patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia is discomfort due to endotracheal intubation. Patients may experience problems such as sore throat, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and dry throat in the postoperative period due to endotracheal intubation. Diagnosis and control of postoperative thirst and sore throat contribute to patient comfort and prevention of complications. This study is considered important because it draws attention to postoperative thirst and sore throat, a problem that surgical patients have.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Knowing how to read, write and speak Turkish
• Having no obstacle in understanding and communicating the information given
• Agreeing to participate in the research verbally and in writing after being informed about the research
• Ages 18 and over
• Those who underwent surgery under general anesthesia
• Those who have not yet started oral intake in the postoperative period
• Without menthol allergy
• According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification; Class I, II and III, Normal healthy patient (ASA I); Patient with mild systemic disease (ASA II); Patient with serious systemic disease that does not affect daily activities (ASA III)
• Having no sore throat before surgery
• As a result of the evaluation made with the Safety Protocol for Management Thirst in the Early Postoperative Period , patients who provide appropriate conditions for ice application (the individual must be conscious and oriented after the surgery, the airway must be open with coughing, swallowing and breathing, and there is no nausea or vomiting)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those who have severe nausea and vomiting at the time of application
• Those with a change in consciousness status/acute confusion after surgical intervention
• Those with chronic disease/diseases related to Ear-Nose-Throat Diseases
• Patients with difficult intubate
• Patients with psychiatric problems