%0 Journal Article
%T Postthyroidectomy Throat Pain and Swallowing: Do Proton Pump Inhibitors Make a Difference?
%A Faisal Zawawi
%A Keith Richardson
%A Rickul Varshney
%A Jonathan Young
%A Alex M. Mlynarek
%A Michael P. Hier
%A Richard J. Payne
%J ISRN Otolaryngology
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/135978
%X Objectives. Following thyroid surgery patients complain from swallowing disability and throat pain resembling symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). The purpose of this study is to assess whether proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) given to patients in the first postoperative week relieve the swallowing disability and throat pain complaints. Materials and Methods. A questionnaire was given to 523 patients who had thyroid surgery between October 2010 and August 2011. In the first postoperative clinic visit each patient was approached to fill out a questionnaire. 208 patients met criteria, 100 of which were on PPIs (study group) and 108 were not on PPIs (control group). Results. When comparing the study group to the control group, the average pain level was 2.57 compared to 3.9 during the first postoperative week, and 1.27 compared to 2.41 at day 7 ( value = 0.001). Swallowing disability was also lower in the study group when compared to the control group, 1.87 and 3.12, respectively, during the first postoperative week and 0.87 and 1.76, respectively, at day 7 ( value = 0.007). Conclusion. Patients treated with PPIs had less pain and swallowing disability in the first week following thyroid surgery, when compared to patients not treated with PPIs. 1. Introduction It has been observed that patients who undergo thyroidectomy complain of throat pain and short-term dysphagia following their surgery [1¨C3]. Their surgical intervention and traumatic intubation can be explanations for these symptoms. However, no actual cause tends to be found for the majority of cases [1, 2]. These symptoms, that mimic laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), cause a relative disability in the short-term period following a thyroid gland surgery [2, 3]. LPR is a common disorder in which patients often complain of throat pain and swallowing discomfort (globus sensation) [4, 5]. LPR can be well controlled by both lifestyle modifications and if needed medications. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used in the treatment of LPR [4, 5]. Because symptoms of individuals with LPR are similar to those of postthyroidectomy patients, we hypothesized that treating patients with PPIs may be beneficial in diminishing throat pain and dysphagia in patients who have undergone thyroid surgery. The purpose of this study is to compare the complaints of throat pain and dysphagia following thyroid surgery in patients given PPIs versus those who were not. 2. Material and Methods This is a prospective case-controlled pilot study conducted at the McGill Thyroid Cancer Centre from October 2010 until August
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.otolaryngology/2013/135978/