Does free assumption of water from one hour after extubation reduce thirst without increasing complications in heart surgery patients

Object The aim of this study was to assess whether free assumption of water in heart surgery patients, as early as one hour after extubation, produces measurable differences in thirst, nausea and vomiting. Methods Randomized controlled trial (pilot phase), by sex and age. Eventual cases of dysphagia are identified by both a functional examination and a water test. The sense of thirst and sickness are registered 1 hour post-extubation and subsequently at the 3rd, 6th and 12th hour using an NRS-scale 0-10. Data analysis was performed using a logistic regression model. Results 54 patients have been enrolled in the study. The sense of thirst is diminished in 17.39% of female, in 24.29% of male, leading to a total reduction in 22.58% of patients. The sense of sickness is arisen in 13.04% of female, in 2.86% of male, leading to a total rise of 5.38% of patients. Moreover, the sensation of thirst is diminished in 33.33% of patients with free water intake (treatment group), but only in 16.07% of patients who cannot drink water (control group). Finally, as far as the sensation of sickness is concerned, our results show a rise of 11.11% in patients with free water intake, higher if compared to 1.79% of the control group, but smaller than the value indicated in the literature. Discussion The collected data showed that drinking water from one hour after extubation had a positive effect without a significant increase in the patient's perception of nausea.