Objective To evaluate the effect of early aerosol inhalation on sore throat of the patients after double lumen endobronchial intubation. Methods 90 patients scheduled for thoracic surgery were randomly assigned to 3 groups,30 cases in each group: control group (Group C), early aerosol inhalation group (group one) and later aerosol inhalation group (group two). All patients were sent to PACU after extubation.The patients in group C were intraveously injected with 6 mL saline , those in group one were treated with aerosol inhalation of 1mg budesonide, while the patients in group two with budesonide at the same dosage 2 h later. Patients were examined with indirect laryngoscopy 6 h after surgery. The cases of vocal cord congestion and glottis edema were recorded. The degree of pharyngolaryneal pain was assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) when they were sent to PACU , 6 , 24 and 48 hours after surgery . Results The rates of vocal cord congestion and glottis edema in group one were lower than those in group C and group 2, 6 h after surgery (P < 0.05). The pharyngolaryneal VAS in group one was significantly lower than that in group C and group 2 , 6 and 24 h after operation (P < 0.05), but there was no statistical difference between them 48 h after surgery between 3 groups. Conclusions Aerosol inhalation of budesonide after double lumen endobronchial intubation for the patients scheduled for thoracic surgery during early postoperative stage can reduce the incidences of vocal cord congestion and glottis edema, inhibit airway inflammation, significantly reduce the extent of the POST. The effect is better than that of the lateraerosol inhalation of budesonide.