A Neural Integrity Monitor Electromyography Endotracheal Tube Causes More Severe Postoperative Sore Throat Than a Standard Endotracheal Tube in Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background This study aimed at figuring out the different effects of a neural integrity monitor electromyography endotracheal tube (NIM-EMG-ETT) and a standard endotracheal tube (ETT) on postoperative sore throat (POST). Methods This prospective cohort study enrolled 143 patients scheduled to undergo general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Patients were allocated into three groups: Group A, non-thyroid surgery with a standard ETT; Group B, thyroid surgery with a standard ETT; Group C, thyroid surgery with a NIM-EMG-ETT. The incidence, the severity and visual analog scale (VAS) of POST were recorded. The incidence and the severity of POST were tested by χ 2 test or Fisher’s exact test. And VAS of POST was tested by Kruskal–Wallis test. Results The incidences of POST in Group B and Group C were significantly higher than that of Group A at all the time points after extubation ( P < 0.001). The incidences of POST in Group C was significantly higher than that in Group B at 8 h, 24 h and 48 h after extubation (89.4% vs. 68.8%, P = 0.014, relative risk (RR) 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–1.61; 89.4% vs. 58.3%, P = 0.001, RR 1.53, 95% CI 1.18–1.98; 76.6% vs. 45.8%, P = 0.002, RR 1.67, 95% CI 1.18–2.36). Moreover, there was a significant higher VAS of POST and more serious POST with Group C than with Group B. Conclusions A NIM-EMG-ETT may induce higher incidence of POST and more serious POST than a standard ETT. Trail Registration Chinese Clinical Trail Registry ( http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx , ChiCTR2200058896, 2022-4-18).