ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency of respiratory complications encountered in two different positions used for extubation i.e. conventional recovery position versus the modified recovery position (recovery position with 10-degree left tilt and head-down). STUDY DESIGN: Comparative study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Anaesthesia, Combine Military Hospital, Kohat, Pakistan, from April 2022 to March 2023. METHODOLOGY: Two hundred patients scheduled for elective nose and throat surgeries were equally divided into two groups (Group C and Group M). Patients with history of bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), recent respiratory infection, and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were excluded from this study. Patients with more than two intubation attempts were also excluded. Group C patients were extubated in a conventional left lateral recovery position, whereas Group M patients were extubated in a modified recovery position with patient in a left lateral position with 10-degree head-down and 10-degree left tilt. All patients were observed for persistent coughing (coughing that lasted for at least 2 minutes after extubation), breath holding for 20 seconds or more, desaturation (oxygen saturation less than 90%), laryngospasm, need for reintubation, vomiting, and regurgitation. RESULTS: Frequency of airway complications was significantly higher in Group C as compared to Group M. In Group C, 18 (18%) out of hundred patients had complications compared to 6 (6%) patients only in Group M (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Extubation in a modified recovery position is associated with reduced frequency of airway complications as compared to the conventional recovery position. KEY WORDS: Airway complications, Extubation, Cough, Laryngospasm, Recovery position.