Description

Tonsillectomy is one of the most commonly performed day-case surgeries in pediatric patients. Despite its routine nature, post operative sore throat (POST) remains significant cause of morbidity, leading to discomfort and reduced parental satisfaction(1) POST ranked sixth among the 10 most undesirable adverse effects related to general anesthesia (2). Irritation and inflammation of the airway caused by pressure exerted on the tracheal wall by the endotracheal tube (ETT)(3) trauma during intubation and mucosal dehydration(4) are thought to be the mechanistic basis for a postoperative sore throat (POST) During tonsillectomy, the shared surgical and anesthetic field poses a risk of airway manipulation, necessitating close cooperation between surgeon and anesthesiologist to maintain adequate oxygenation and a clear operative field(5) Intraoperative blood or fluid aspiration can further exacerbate upper airway irritation, contributing to POST(6) Given the impact of POST on patient well-being, effective preventive strategies are essential for optimizing postoperative recovery (7) Nebulization therapy is widely used to prevent POST. It is highly recommended because of small volume of drugs required for effect, easy way of administration, better patient compliance, and most importantly little risk of adverse events compared with other methods(such as gargle, intravenous, etc.)(8) Commonly used aerosolized drugs include corticosteroids, ketamine, magnesium, lidocaine, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), etc. and have achieved various effects(9\_12) Previous studies showed promising results for both Nebulized Dexmedetomidine and Nebulized Lidocaine in Attenuating Sore Throat(13\_14) , yet no study has directly compared the efficacy of Nebulized Dexmedetomidine Versus Nebulized Lidocaine in Attenuating Sore Throat Following Tonsillectomy.