Effect of ultrasound-guided internal superior laryngeal nerve block on sore throat after intubation by double-lumen bronchial tube for thoracoscopic surgery

Background Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a frequent complication following extubation. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of ultrasound (US)-guided bilateral internal superior laryngeal nerve (iSLN) block in reducing POST. Patients and methods A total of 64 adult patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery with general anesthesia and double-lumen bronchial intubation were randomly allocated to either a control (standard care) or an iSLN block group (SLNB group). Results Blood pressure and heart rate measurements were comparable between the groups at baseline and postintubation ( P >0.05), but they decreased significantly in patients who received iSLN block after extubation ( P 0.05). Conclusion US-guided iSLN block appears to be an effective technique for mitigating POST following double-lumen bronchial intubation in thoracoscopic procedures.