Effect of Gum Chewing on Sore Throat After Double-lumen Tube Intubation

Patients scheduled for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery requiring double-lumen tube intubation and who agree to participate in the study are randomized to the gum chewing group and the control group. All clinical procedures are identical in both groups except for preoperative gum chewing. The gum chewing group chew gum for approximately 2 minutes, 10 minutes before induction of anesthesia. The control group do not chew gum and be induced to swallow saliva twice at the same time point. All patients are endotracheally intubated with a double-lumen tube using video laryngoscopy to provide unilateral pulmonary ventilation. Extubation is performed according to routine procedures, and the tube is assessed with whether there are blood stains at extubation. At 30 minutes in the recovery room and at 2 hours and 24 hours after extubation, the patient's sore throat is assessed for presence and intensity assessed by a 11-point numerical pain scale (minimal value 0 representing absence of pain, maximal value 10 representing the worst possible pain). Hoarseness at the same time points is also assessed for presence and severity. The presence of intubation-related complications (aspiration pneumonia) is assessed as a safety measure.