The Effect of Oral Water and Ice Popsicle Exposure on the Management of Thirst in the Immediate Postoperative Period

Purpose: Thirst is a high-incidence condition that causes patients to experience problems in the early postoperative period in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). The study was conducted to determine the effect of oral water and ice application in managing early postoperative thirst.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Methods: The study was conducted between January and April 2017 with 150 patients who were transferred from the operating room of a university hospital to the PACU and met the research criteria. The patients were divided into treatment (water group = 50, ice group = 50) and control (n = 50) groups. Patients in the intervention group received oral water/ice application after admission to the PACU after surgery. Patients in the control group received routine treatment and care.

Findings: In intragroup comparisons before and after the application, there was a statistically significant decrease in thirst, dry mouth, dry throat, and difficulty in swallowing in the water and ice groups (P < .001); ice application was more effective than water application, and there was no significant difference in the control group (P > .05).

Conclusions: Postoperative oral water/ice application was an effective and safe nursing intervention to reduce thirst, dry mouth, dry throat, and difficulty in swallowing. Ice application was more effective.