magnesium gargle versus ketamine gargle in postoperative sore throat pain; a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

Background: a wide range of approaches have been tested for the prevention and treatment of postoperative sore throat pain (post pain). this study attempted to compare the effects of gargling with ketamine or magnesium sulfate on post pain. materials and methods: in a randomized clinical trial, 60 patients scheduled for prone position laminectomy were randomly assigned into three groups: ketamine (n=20), magnesium (n=20), and control (n=20). the magnesium group received magnesium sulfate gargle (30 mg/kg in a total of 30 ml 5% dextrose water), the ketamine group received ketamine gargle (0.5 mg/kg in a total of 30 ml 5% dextrose water) and the control group received 30 ml 5% dextrose water gargle; all these solutions were administered 10 min before anesthesia induction. visual analog scale (vas) for throat pain was recorded in the recovery room; immediately after arrival and then, at 2, 4, and 24 hours postoperatively in the ward. would there be any vas equal to or more than 3 of 10, rescue analgesics were administered immediately and their cumulative doses were recorded. results: the incidence of complaint-free patients in the ketamine group was significantly higher than in the other two groups. the incidence of sore throat with vas≥3, mandating rescue analgesia, was significantly lower than the other two groups. patient satisfaction after surgery was significantly higher in the ketamine group. conclusion: patients experiencing post pain treated with “ketamine gargle” had better results compared with “magnesium sulfate” or “placebo” gargle.