Armored tube does not reduce the incidence and severity of postoperative hoarseness and sore throat

Postoperative hoarseness and sore throat are common adverse events following surgery under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation, which can negatively impact patient satisfaction and recovery. Endotracheal intubation may cause trauma to the vocal muscles, vocal cord mucosa, and laryngeal mucosa, exacerbating these symptoms. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that an armored endotracheal tube, designed for greater flexibility and resistance to kinking, would be more effective than a standard polyvinyl chloride tube in reducing the incidence and severity of postoperative hoarseness and sore throat in thyroidectomy patients. In this prospective, randomized, controlled trial, 124 patients undergoing thyroidectomy were randomly assigned to either the polyvinyl chloride tube group or the armored tube group. Postoperative severity of sore throat and hoarseness was assessed at 1, 6, 24, and 48 hours after extubation using a visual analog scale and a hoarseness score, respectively. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the incidence and severity of hoarseness and sore throat. In the post-anesthesia care unit, hoarseness was observed in 63% of the armored tube group and 66% of the polyvinyl chloride tube group (p=0.270). The severity of sore throat, measured by the visual analog scale, also showed no significant differences between groups. An armored endotracheal tube did not reduce the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat or hoarseness compared to a polyvinyl chloride tube. These findings highlight the need for exploring alternative protective strategies to enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction following thyroidectomy.