Three-Quarters of Surgery Patients Experience Postoperative Thirst

Quick fact: About 77% of surgical patients experience thirst after their procedures, making it one of the most common post-surgery discomforts.

A meta-analysis of 11 studies involving 20,612 patients found that postoperative thirst affects roughly three in four people following surgery. Researchers identified several factors linked to higher thirst rates: sex (with a 44% increased odds for one group), the type of anesthesia drugs used (48% increased odds), and surgical type. Persistent thirst can impact cognitive function and psychological well-being during recovery. The findings suggest that healthcare teams should routinely check for thirst after surgery and take steps to help patients feel more comfortable, as this common yet often overlooked symptom significantly affects the post-surgery experience.

Source: PMID 38935010 (Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, 2024)