Comparative effectiveness of oral cooling and moisturizing interventions for managing postoperative thirst in post-anesthesia care unit patients: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

In 30 seconds

This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of oral cooling and moisturizing interventions for alleviating postoperative thirst in patients in the post-anesthesia care unit. Analyzing data from eleven RCTs with 3098 participants, the study found that menthol ice significantly reduced thirst intensity compared to nil by mouth, with a mean difference of -4.84.

Key findings

• Menthol ice reduced postoperative thirst intensity by a mean difference of -4.84 compared to nil by mouth.
• Ice and water also significantly reduced thirst intensity with mean differences of -4.17 and -4.07, respectively.
• Other interventions like citric acid spray and wet gauze did not show significant effects on thirst relief.

Why it matters

Postoperative thirst can negatively impact patient comfort and recovery. Identifying effective interventions can enhance patient care in the post-anesthesia setting, potentially improving overall satisfaction and outcomes.