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Does Preoperative Gum Chewing Reduce Postoperative Sore Throat?

  • 2025-08
  • Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses 40(4)
    • Aliye Okgün Alcan
    • Dilek Akdağ
    • Hakan Aygün
    • Eyüp Kebabçı

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 72
Population
72 patients scheduled for cholecystectomy
Methods
Randomized controlled, blinded, prospective, experimental study; patients randomly assigned to control, mastic, xylitol, or propolis groups; experimental groups chewed sugar-free gum for 15 minutes immediately before surgery
Blinding
Single-blind
Duration
24 hours postoperatively
Funding
Unclear

Purpose

There are numerous pharmacological and nonpharmacological methods that are used to manage postoperative sore throat (POST). The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of different types of herbal gums on POST management.

Design

A randomized controlled, blinded, prospective, experimental study.

Methods

This study was carried out between June and October 2023 in a research and training hospital. A total of 72 patients scheduled for cholecystectomy were randomly assigned to one of four groups in the preoperative period: control, mastic, xylitol, and propolis groups. No intervention was applied to the control group, while patients in the experimental groups chewed either mastic-flavored, xylitol, or propolis gum. Patients in the experimental groups chewed sugar-free gum for 15 minutes immediately before surgery. The incidence and severity of sore throat were evaluated upon admission to the postanesthesia recovery unit and at the 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 24th hours postoperatively. Descriptive statistics, χ2, Fisher's Exact, Independent samples t test, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used in the analysis of the data.

Findings

There was no significant difference in POST severity between the groups at admission to the postanesthesia recovery unit and at the 1st, 6th, and 24th hours postoperatively. However, the rate (P: .007) and the median POST score (P: .046) in the propolis group were significantly lower than that of the other groups at the 2 hours postoperatively. Additionally, throat dryness in the propolis group was significantly lower at the first (P: .046) and second (P: .023) hour after surgery compared to the other groups.

Conclusions

Preoperative chewing sugar-free gum containing propolis effectively reduces sore throat and throat dryness within the first 2 hours after surgery.

Research Insights

  • Mastic→Reduced Postoperative Sore Throat Severity

    There was no significant difference in POST severity between the groups at admission to the postanesthesia recovery unit and at the 1st, 6th, and 24th hours postoperatively.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    mastic-flavored sugar-free gum (details of dose not specified)
  • Mastic→Reduced Throat Dryness

    throat dryness in the propolis group was significantly lower at the first (P: .046) and second (P: .023) hour after surgery compared to the other groups.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    mastic-flavored sugar-free gum (details of dose not specified)
  • Propolis→Reduced Postoperative Sore Throat Severity

    There was no significant difference in POST severity between the groups at admission to the postanesthesia recovery unit and at the 1st, 6th, and 24th hours postoperatively.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    mastic-flavored sugar-free gum (details of dose not specified)
  • Propolis→Reduced Throat Dryness

    throat dryness in the propolis group was significantly lower at the first (P: .046) and second (P: .023) hour after surgery compared to the other groups.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    mastic-flavored sugar-free gum (details of dose not specified)
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