Benzydamine Hydrochloride and Post-operative Sore Throat
Singapore106 participantsStarted 2025-08-11
Plain-language summary
Postoperative sore throat (POST) after laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion is prevalent and unappealing. A significant cause of POST is mechanical injury to the airway mucosa during airway instrumentation, leading to mucosal injury and inflammation. The Difflam Forte Anti-Inflammatory Throat Spray (Difflam) contains benzydamine hydrochloride, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent with topical analgesic properties. This study will randomize 106 women undergoing gynaecological surgery under general anaesthesia with LMA use at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) in 1:1 allocation ratio of study (Difflam spray) and control (usual practice; no intervention) groups. Demographic and intraoperative airway data collection will be conducted in perioperative period. Those allocated to study group will receive Difflam spray when awake in the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU). The primary aim to determine if patients undergoing general anaesthesia with LMA use with the Difflam spray in PACU will have a lower incidence of POST in the immediate and 4 hours postoperative recovery period, as compared with those in the control group. Other outcome measures include the severity of pain of sore throat as measured by the visual analog scale, and incidence of side effects associated with the Difflam spray. This proposal will determine whether the use of Difflam spray is suitable to be implemented in local clinical setting and improve perioperative care.
Who can participate
Age range
21 Years – 80 Years
Sex
FEMALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 1-2
. Female patients having laryngeal mask airway (LMA) for airway management for surgery in KKH;
. BMI \< 40 kg/m2.
Exclusion criteria
. Pregnant;
. Pre-existing sore throat, or history of upper respiratory tract infection/ abnormalities, hypertension, chronic pain or anti-inflammatory drugs and antihypertensive treatment;
. Allergies to benzydamine hydrochloride;
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Postoperative sore throat
Timeframe: 1 day; from the immediate and 4 hours postoperative recovery period