Gender differences in sore throat and hoarseness following endotracheal tube or laryngeal mask airway: a prospective study

Background: Postoperative sore throat and hoarseness are common minor complications following airway manipulation. This study was primarily done to determine gender differences in the incidence of these symptoms and the location of POST after laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and endotracheal tube (ETT). Methods: A total of 112 men and 185 women were included during a four month period. All patients were evaluated postoperatively and after 24 hours about the occurrence of sore throat, its location and hoarseness. If the patients had any symptom, they were followed-up at 48, 72 and 96 hours until the symptoms resolved. Results: There was no significant gender difference in postoperative sore throat (POST) and postoperative hoarseness (PH) when analyzing both airway devices together. The incidence of sore throat and hoarseness were higher postoperatively after an ETT than an LMA (32% vs. 19%, p = 0.012) and 57% vs. 33% (p < 0.001) respectively. Significantly more women than men had POST after an LMA (26% vs. 6%, p = 0.004). No significant gender difference was found in either POST or PH after an ETT or in the incidence of PH after an LMA. More patients located their pain below the larynx after an ETT vs. an LMA (24% vs. 4%). Pain above the larynx was more common after an LMA than an ETT (52% vs. 37%). Conclusions: In a clinical setting where women are intubated with a smaller size ETT than men, there were no significant differences in POST or PH between genders. Additionally, more women than men have POST when an LMA is used. Awareness of POST and PH may help streamline patients in whom the best airway device could be used during anesthesia and surgery.