Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Clinical Medicine, cilt.14, sa.2, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
Background/Objective: Throat packs are widely used during orofacial surgery to reduce the frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). However, evidence supporting their use is mixed, with associated risks such as postoperative sore throat and the possibility of being forgotten in situ. Methods: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of throat packs in preventing PONV and postoperative sore throat during dental treatments under general anesthesia in children with special healthcare needs (SHCNs). Eighty children with SHCNs were randomized into two groups: throat packing (Group TP, n = 41) and no throat packing (Group n-TP, n = 39). A throat pack was used in Group TP, and PONV and sore throat were evaluated at 1, 2, and 4 h postoperatively. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 was used for data analysis. The registration number at ClinicalTrials.gov is NCT06169306, registered on 28 December 2023. Results: Patients in Group n-TP showed significantly higher PONV values at 1 and 2 h postoperatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.019, respectively). Visual Analog Scale (VAS) values were also significantly higher in Group TP at 1 and 2 h postoperatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, respectively). Conclusions: Using throat packs in dental treatments under general anesthesia for children with SHCNs reduced the incidence of PONV but increased the incidence of postoperative sore throat.