Sore throat has been reported to occur in 24-90% of intubated patients after general anesthesia. This study was done to evaluate the influence of succinycholine and tracheal tube lubrication on postoperative sore throat.

Three hundred and two patients requiring orotracheal intubation for surgery were randomly allocated to one of three groups according to kinds of lubricants on endotracheal tube: control group, 2% lidocaine jelly group, K-Y jelly group. All patients were premedicated similarly and anesthesia was induced with thiopental sodium. Patients were paralyzed with succinylcholine or non-depolarizing muscle relaxants and endotracheal intubation was done by one anesthesiologist. All patients were interviewed postoperatively after 24 hour by individals who did not know which lubricants and muscle relaxants were used.

The incidence of postoperative sore throat was no statistically significant difference in three groups when non-depolarizing agents were used for endotracheal intubation. And the incidence of postoperative sore throat was increased in control group with succinylcholine compared with control group with non-depolarizing muscle relaxants(p<0.05). But the incidence of postoperative sore throat was decreased in K-Y jelly group and 2% lidocaine jelly group compared to control group when succinylcholine were used for endotracheal intubation(p<0.05).

We suggest that succinylchoine can induce the sore throat, but lubrication of tracheal tubes provide advantage in terms of reducing sore throat when succinylcholine was used for intubation.