Objective: To compare postoperative sore throat (POST) between patients receiving laryngeal mask airway (LMA) sprayed with either 0.3% benzydamine hydrochloride (BH) or normal saline.
Material and Method: This prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study was conducted in 80 patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia using LMA. They were randomly allocated to receive LMA sprayed with either 0.3% BH (Group BH) or normal saline (Group C). POST was evaluated at the first and forth postoperative hour. Dysphagia, dysphonia, local side effects of BH such as pharyngeal numbness or stinging sensation, and patient satisfaction were also recorded and analyzed.
Results: There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the two groups. The incidences of patient without POST at the first and the forth postoperative hour in Group BH was higher than that in Group C (47.5% vs. 27.5%, p = 0.07 and 82.5% vs. 60.0%, p = 0.03, respectively). Patients in Group BH significantly had lower median severity of POST at the first and the forth postoperative hour. At the forth postoperative hour, there was a 22.5% (95% CI 3.3 to 41.7) absolute increase in the incidence of patients without POST in Group BH compared with Group C, and this was equal to a number needed to treat of 4.4 (95% CI 2.4 to 30.4). No serious airway complications or major adverse reactions were observed in either group. Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in Group BH.
Conclusion: BH sprayed on LMA cuff increased incidence of patients without POST, decreased POST severity, and increased patient satisfaction.

Keywords: Benzydamine hydrochloride, Laryngeal mask airway, Postoperative sore throat