Pilot Study of Throat Packs Soaked in Gengigel Spray in Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery

The Pilot Study of Throat Packs Soaked in Gengigel Spray in Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery Under General Anaesthesia

Throat packs are commonly used in many surgical procedures involving the oral cavity and pharynx, primarily to prevent blood, saliva, and other debris from entering the lower respiratory tract, thereby maintaining a clear airway and reducing the risk of aspiration and respiratory complications. Traditionally, these packs are moistened with saline or used in a dry state, with the choice often depending on the surgeon's preference and specific surgical requirements. However, despite their widespread usage, the exploration of alternative substances to moisten throat packs, particularly those with additional therapeutic benefits, remains limited in medical research. This pilot study introduces Gengigel spray as an innovative alternative to saline for moistening throat packs. Gengigel, a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based product, is known for its healing properties and anti-inflammatory effects, which are beneficial in oral care. Gengigel provides a non-anesthetic approach that promotes tissue repair and reduces inflammation. This makes it particularly advantageous in the context of surgical procedures where reducing postoperative inflammation and promoting mucosal healing are crucial.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Throat, Sore
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Gengigel

Detailed Description

Using throat packs is a standard practice in surgeries involving the oral cavity, pharynx, and upper airway to prevent the aspiration of blood and other debris, which could lead to postoperative complications such as aspiration pneumonia. Traditionally, these throat packs are moistened with saline or left dry. However, this conventional approach has been associated with postoperative throat pain and discomfort, which are common and often distressing complications for patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. The discomfort caused by these packs can delay recovery, extend hospital stays, and negatively impact overall patient satisfaction with the surgical experience.

Gengigel presents a novel alternative with distinct advantages. Gengigel, which contains hyaluronic acid (HA), is recognized for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties, making it a promising candidate for improving postoperative outcomes when used in throat packs. Despite Gengigel's established use in other medical applications, such as wound care and oral health, there is currently no research exploring its effectiveness in moistening throat packs during surgical procedures. This represents a significant knowledge gap, as the combination of Gengigel's healing and anti-inflammatory effects could potentially address both pain and mucosal recovery.

Addressing this gap is crucial for advancing postoperative care, as current literature does not adequately explore the potential benefits or risks associated with using Gengigel in throat packs. Furthermore, there is a lack of data on patient outcomes, including the extent of pain relief, the speed of mucosal healing, potential complications, and overall patient satisfaction when Gengigel is utilized in this context. The absence of such data limits the ability of healthcare providers to make evidence-based decisions that could improve patient care.

To bridge this gap, this study proposes a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare the outcomes of using Gengigel-soaked throat packs versus traditional saline-soaked packs in patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. The study will systematically assess postoperative throat pain levels, evaluate the degree of mucosal healing, monitor for any adverse effects, and measure overall patient satisfaction. By conducting this comprehensive evaluation, the research aims to provide robust evidence that could guide the use of Gengigel in throat packs, potentially setting a new standard in postoperative care. Ultimately, the findings could lead to enhanced patient comfort, faster recovery times, and a higher quality of care for patients undergoing surgeries involving the oral cavity and pharynx.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60
• Phase: Early Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: sabreena ismail, MD; Phone Number: 0136325555; Email: dr.sabby90@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Malaysia
  • Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 50603
    • Recruiting
    • Sabreena Ismail
    • Contact: Rafidah Prof atan, MD; Phone Number: 4422 0379494422; Email: rafidah.atan@ummc.edu.my
    • Principal Investigator: Sabreena Ismail, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Classified as ASA I-II, indicating a relatively low risk of complications from anesthesia
2. Aged between 18 and 60 years, which represents a typical adult surgical population
3. Both male and female patients, ensuring gender inclusivity and representation in the study findings

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Existing sore throat prior to surgery, which could affect the baseline measurement of postoperative sore throat.
2. Anticipation of a difficult airway, as these patients may require specialized intubation techniques that are not standardized across the study.
3. More than two attempts at endotracheal tube (ETT) insertion, as multiple attempts could cause additional trauma and skew the study outcomes.
4. Any trauma occurring during intubation, which could independently contribute to postoperative sore throat and other complications

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Saline soaked throat pack; Throat pack used will be soaked with saline	Drug: Gengigel; Throat pack will be soaked with gengigel, and post operatively, will see if there is any presence of sore throat, severity of sore throat. 10 mlm of gengigel, in liquid form will be used to soak the throat pack. 30 patients will receive gengigel spray soaked throat pack, and control group will receive normal saline soaked throat pack
Experimental: Gengigel soaked throat pack; Throat pack used will be soaked with gengigel	Drug: Gengigel; Throat pack will be soaked with gengigel, and post operatively, will see if there is any presence of sore throat, severity of sore throat. 10 mlm of gengigel, in liquid form will be used to soak the throat pack. 30 patients will receive gengigel spray soaked throat pack, and control group will receive normal saline soaked throat pack

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of postoperative sore throat.	This will be assessed with Scoring System of Harding and McVey	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Severity of postoperative sore throat	This will be assessed with Scoring System of Harding and McVey	6 months
Patient satisfaction	This will be assessed with a yes/no question regarding their overall satisfaction with the postoperative care.	6 months
The presence of hoarseness of voice	This will be assessed with Scoring System of Harding and McVey	6 months
The presence of cough	This will be assessed with Scoring System of Harding and McVey	6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Malaya

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 12, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 12, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 12, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 2, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 19, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 27, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 27, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 19, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Stomatognathic Diseases; Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Pharyngeal Diseases; Pharyngitis
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024917-14215

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

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