Comparison of the Efficiency of Two Different Methods in Managing Early Postoperative Thirst

Comparison of the Efficacy of Ice and Soaked Gauze in Managing Early Postoperative Thirst

Postoperative thirst is one of the most common problems in patients. Thirst is a subjective symptom. Thirst can cause unwanted problems in patients such as anxiety, discomfort and nausea. It may even cause anxiety, hypertension, dysrhythmia, non-compliance with treatment and increased need for anesthesia. Although different methods have been applied in the management of thirst in the existing literature and positive results have been obtained, studies with high evidence value are very limited. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two different methods in thirst management.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Patient Satisfaction; Nursing Caries; Post-Op Complication
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Ice Application; Other: Wetted Gauze Application

Detailed Description

In this study, the investigators compared the effectiveness of two of the methods proposed in the literature for the relief of postoperative thirst.

These methods are ice application and wet gauze. A numerical comparison scale was used to assess and monitor thirst (0=no thirst, 10=worst perceived thirst).

In patients with a thirst score of 4 and above in the early postoperative period, the duration of thirst severity and the method of quenching thirst with oral ice or wet gauze impregnation were compared. In addition, a control group without any intervention was included. The thirst conditions of these three groups were compared.

A total of 240 patients, 80 in each group, were included in the study. Oral ice was applied in one group, wet gauze in the second group and no intervention was applied in the third group.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 240
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Ataşehir
    • İstanbul, Ataşehir, Turkey, 34752
      • Yasemin Uslu
  • Eyalet/Yerleşke
    • İstanbul, Eyalet/Yerleşke, Turkey, 34752
      • Acıbadem University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged 18-65 years
• undergoing elective surgery
• Patients undergoing surgery other than gastrointestinal system surgery
• Patients in class I, II, III according to the American anesthesiologists' association classification (ASA)
• Patients who have completed a minimum of 6 hours of strict fasting and 3 hours of thirst
• Patients who can verbally express a thirst level of 4 points or more according to visual benchmark scale in the early postoperative period
• Patients who comply with the safety protocol in the early postoperative period
• Patients who can express their thirst in the early postoperative period/recovery unit
• Patients with a duration of surgical anesthesia ≥1 hour and taken to the recovery unit at the end of surgery will be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Emergency planned surgeries
• Patients who had a second surgical intervention during the hospitalization period
• Patients who need intensive care after surgery
• Patients with problems in the extubation process after surgery
• Patients with altered state of consciousness after surgery
• Patients with fluid electrolyte imbalance (hypovolemia and sodium imbalance)
• Patients with swallowing difficulties and fluid intake restriction
• Foreign patients with language barriers
• Patients with menthol allergy
• Patients with problems in the head, neck, throat and mouth will be excluded from the sample.
• Women who have just given birth and are breastfeeding.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Ice Application; In ice application, 5 ml of drinking water was filled in a 10 ml syringe and frozen by inserting a plastic piston into it and then these frozen ice cubes were given into the mouths of the patients.; The ice cubes were prepared before the application and stored in the freezer section of the refrigerator.; The ice was taken out of the frozen syringe and the nurse moved it around the patient's mouth to melt it.; By holding the ice cubes from the piston part to the researcher, the patient was allowed to suck and melt them in the mouth.	Other: Ice Application; Drinking water was placed in a syringe and filled in the refrigerator
Experimental: Wetted Gauze Application; During wetted gauze application, sterile gauze swabs were wetted with drinking water.; Sterile gauze swabs (10 cm*10cm) were wetted with 5 ml and applied for 5 minutes.; The wetted end part of the gauze swabs was allowed to be sucked in the patient's mouth by the researcher.	Other: Wetted Gauze Application; Sterile gauze soaked with drinking water
No Intervention: No intervention; Patients in the control group did not receive any application

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Thirst score	Visual Comparion Scale (VCS) was used to assess thirst. In this scale, thirst was graded from 0 to 10. 0=no thirst, 10=the most severe thirst. The scale was evaluated as 0-3 points mild thirst, 4-6 points moderate thirst, 7-10 points severe thirst.; First follow-up (T1): Patient's thirst level measured by VCS and intervention (ice application or wet gauze application); Second follow-up (T2); evaluation was performed with VCS 5 minutes after the application.; Third follow-up (T3); evaluation was performed with VCS 30 minutes after the application.Fourth follow-up (T4); assessment was performed with VCS 60 minutes after the application. Fifth follow-up (T5); evaluation was performed with VCS 90 minutes after the application. The thirst level of the patient was measured 5 times in total. At 90 minutes, data collection was terminated. Scores between 5 measurement values were compared.	Using Thirst Visual Comparion Scale score after immediately after surgery (T1) 5th min.(T2), 30th min.(T3), 60th min.(T4), 90th min.(T5)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Acibadem University
• Investigators: Study Director: Fevzi Toraman, Prof. Dr., Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar Üniversitesi

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Serato VM, Fonseca LF, Birolim MM, Rossetto EG, Mai LD, Garcia AKA. Package of menthol measures for thirst relief: a randomized clinical study. Rev Bras Enferm. 2019 Jun 27;72(3):600-608. doi: 10.1590/0034-7167-2018-0057. English, Portuguese.
• Peyrot des Gachons C, Avrillier J, Gleason M, Algarra L, Zhang S, Mura E, Nagai H, Breslin PA. Oral Cooling and Carbonation Increase the Perception of Drinking and Thirst Quenching in Thirsty Adults. PLoS One. 2016 Sep 29;11(9):e0162261. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162261. eCollection 2016.
• Nascimento LAD, Garcia AKA, Conchon MF, Aroni P, Pierotti I, Martins PR, Nakaya TG, Fonseca LF. Advances in the Management of Perioperative Patients' Thirst. AORN J. 2020 Feb;111(2):165-179. doi: 10.1002/aorn.12931.
• Nascimento LA, Fonseca LF, Rosseto EG, Santos CB. [Development of a safety protocol for management thirst in the immediate postoperative period]. Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2014 Oct;48(5):834-43. doi: 10.1590/s0080-6234201400005000009. Portuguese.
• Conchon MF, Fonseca LF. Efficacy of an Ice Popsicle on Thirst Management in the Immediate Postoperative Period: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Perianesth Nurs. 2018 Apr;33(2):153-161. doi: 10.1016/j.jopan.2016.03.009. Epub 2017 Mar 21.
• Cho EA, Kim KH, Park JY. [Effects of frozen gauze with normal saline and ice on thirst and oral condition of laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients: pilot study]. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2010 Oct;40(5):714-23. doi: 10.4040/jkan.2010.40.5.714. Korean.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 31, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): March 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 12, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 17, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): July 18, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 18, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 17, 2024
• Last Verified: July 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: postoperative care; surgical patient; thirst management; surgical thirsty
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Postoperative Complications
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2022-21/01

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No