Effect of intravenous and intra-cuff hydrocortisone on the severity of cough after general anesthesia using endotracheal tube

Abstract Introduction: Cough is a common complication after anesthesia can lead to serious complications. This study carried out to evaluate the effect of intravenous and intra-cuff hydrocortisone on the severity of cough after anesthesia using endotracheal tube. Methods: In this RCT study, 135 patients with distal limb were selected and randomly assigned in A, B and C group. After intubation, in group A, 100 mg diluted hydrocortisone is injected IV in group B, endotracheal tube cuff is filled with 100 mg hydrocortisone and for group C, cuff is filled by 5-10 ml distilled water. Frequency and severity of cough using VAS at 2, 6 and 24 hours after anesthesia were measured. Results: No significant difference revealed in the frequency of cough at 2, 6 and 24 hours after anesthesia in all three groups (P>0.05). In the group hydrocortisone intravenously, at 2 and 6 hours after anesthesia, equal frequency of cough (4.35%) and at 24 hours after anesthesia, reducing the frequency of cough (2.17%), compared with the control group, was observed. In the hydrocortisone group, at 2 hours after anesthesia, in the experimental group (6.67%) compared to control (6.82%) decreased frequency of cough and at 6 hours after anesthesia in experimental group (8.83%) compared to control (4.55%), increasing in frequency of cough and at 24 hours after anesthesia, the same frequency of cough (0%) was observed. Conclusion: Using intravenous hydrocortisone instead of intra-cuff hydrocortisone to reduce the frequency of cough after intubation and further studies in this area is recommended.