Comparison of the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat and subglottic airway injury with cylindrical versus tapered cuff endotracheal tubes in women undergoing surgery for breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a minor complication of general anesthesia with tracheal intubation but may negatively affect patient satisfaction and postoperative recovery. The shape of the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff may influence the incidence and severity of POST. Metho...

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Main Authors: Geng-Ci Chen, Kai-Li Lo, Zhi-Fu Wu, Shun-Ming Chan, Sheng-Yao Cheng, Ching-Lung Ko, Chi-Ming Chu, Wei-Cheng Tseng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Anesthesiology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03040-y
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author Geng-Ci Chen
Kai-Li Lo
Zhi-Fu Wu
Shun-Ming Chan
Sheng-Yao Cheng
Ching-Lung Ko
Chi-Ming Chu
Wei-Cheng Tseng
author_facet Geng-Ci Chen
Kai-Li Lo
Zhi-Fu Wu
Shun-Ming Chan
Sheng-Yao Cheng
Ching-Lung Ko
Chi-Ming Chu
Wei-Cheng Tseng
author_sort Geng-Ci Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a minor complication of general anesthesia with tracheal intubation but may negatively affect patient satisfaction and postoperative recovery. The shape of the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff may influence the incidence and severity of POST. Methods This prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was conducted on 174 female patients with breast cancer. They were randomized into the cylindrical (CYL) (group C) and tapered (TAP) (group T) cuff ETT groups. Data on patient demographics, surgical characteristics, and factors related to tracheal intubation were collected. Furthermore, the incidence and severity of POST at the selected time points were duly recorded for analysis. Other adverse events and anesthesia satisfaction were also documented. Results During the 48-h evaluation period, group T exhibited reduced overall incidence of POST compared with group C. The incidence and severity of POST at 1, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h postoperatively were also significantly lower in group T than in group C. No significant difference in subglottic airway injury was observed between the two groups. Postoperative anesthesia satisfaction was higher in group T. Conclusions The present study demonstrates that the utilization of a TAP cuff ETT rather than a CYL cuff ETT in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery reduced the incidence and severity of POST. The selection of an appropriate ETT for surgical patients could play a pivotal role in alleviating airway complications, enhancing postoperative recovery, and improving anesthesia satisfaction. Trial registration The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06505850) on 2024-07-17.
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spelling doaj-art-ca0a3d7bd5ce4dc595140b8bdfb01f5c2025-08-20T03:06:58ZengBMCBMC Anesthesiology1471-22532025-04-012511910.1186/s12871-025-03040-yComparison of the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat and subglottic airway injury with cylindrical versus tapered cuff endotracheal tubes in women undergoing surgery for breast cancer: a randomized controlled trialGeng-Ci Chen0Kai-Li Lo1Zhi-Fu Wu2Shun-Ming Chan3Sheng-Yao Cheng4Ching-Lung Ko5Chi-Ming Chu6Wei-Cheng Tseng7Department of Anesthesiology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical CenterDepartment of Anesthesiology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical CenterDepartment of Anesthesiology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical CenterDepartment of Anesthesiology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical CenterDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical CenterDepartment of Anesthesiology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical CenterGraduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical CenterDepartment of Anesthesiology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical CenterAbstract Background Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a minor complication of general anesthesia with tracheal intubation but may negatively affect patient satisfaction and postoperative recovery. The shape of the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff may influence the incidence and severity of POST. Methods This prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was conducted on 174 female patients with breast cancer. They were randomized into the cylindrical (CYL) (group C) and tapered (TAP) (group T) cuff ETT groups. Data on patient demographics, surgical characteristics, and factors related to tracheal intubation were collected. Furthermore, the incidence and severity of POST at the selected time points were duly recorded for analysis. Other adverse events and anesthesia satisfaction were also documented. Results During the 48-h evaluation period, group T exhibited reduced overall incidence of POST compared with group C. The incidence and severity of POST at 1, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h postoperatively were also significantly lower in group T than in group C. No significant difference in subglottic airway injury was observed between the two groups. Postoperative anesthesia satisfaction was higher in group T. Conclusions The present study demonstrates that the utilization of a TAP cuff ETT rather than a CYL cuff ETT in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery reduced the incidence and severity of POST. The selection of an appropriate ETT for surgical patients could play a pivotal role in alleviating airway complications, enhancing postoperative recovery, and improving anesthesia satisfaction. Trial registration The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06505850) on 2024-07-17.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03040-yBreast cancerEndotracheal tube cuffPostoperative sore throatSubglottic airway injuryTracheal intubation
spellingShingle Geng-Ci Chen
Kai-Li Lo
Zhi-Fu Wu
Shun-Ming Chan
Sheng-Yao Cheng
Ching-Lung Ko
Chi-Ming Chu
Wei-Cheng Tseng
Comparison of the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat and subglottic airway injury with cylindrical versus tapered cuff endotracheal tubes in women undergoing surgery for breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial
BMC Anesthesiology
Breast cancer
Endotracheal tube cuff
Postoperative sore throat
Subglottic airway injury
Tracheal intubation
title Comparison of the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat and subglottic airway injury with cylindrical versus tapered cuff endotracheal tubes in women undergoing surgery for breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial
title_full Comparison of the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat and subglottic airway injury with cylindrical versus tapered cuff endotracheal tubes in women undergoing surgery for breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Comparison of the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat and subglottic airway injury with cylindrical versus tapered cuff endotracheal tubes in women undergoing surgery for breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat and subglottic airway injury with cylindrical versus tapered cuff endotracheal tubes in women undergoing surgery for breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial
title_short Comparison of the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat and subglottic airway injury with cylindrical versus tapered cuff endotracheal tubes in women undergoing surgery for breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial
title_sort comparison of the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat and subglottic airway injury with cylindrical versus tapered cuff endotracheal tubes in women undergoing surgery for breast cancer a randomized controlled trial
topic Breast cancer
Endotracheal tube cuff
Postoperative sore throat
Subglottic airway injury
Tracheal intubation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03040-y
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