Introduction: In this study we aimed to compare the efficacy of peritonsillar injection of bupivacaine and intravenous acetaminophen on post-tonsillectomy pain in children.
Materials and methods: In this randomized double-blind clinical trial study 60 children with ASA = I-II aged 5-12 years undergoing tonsillectomy were involved. The first group received bupivacaine at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg that was injected into the bed and the anterior crease of each tonsil. The second group was given intravenous acetaminophen at a dose of 12.5 mg/kg. The patient's pain score at 10, 30, 60 min after his/her admission to recovery room and 120, 240 and 360 min after the surgery was recorded using CHEOPS. Patient's sedation score, nausea or vomiting, the time of the first request for analgesia and the time of starting oral feeding were recorded and analyzed too.
Results: There was no significant differences in mean age (p value = 0.44), gender (p value = 0.79), weight (p value = 0.36), height (p value = 0.17), anesthesia duration (p.value = 0.85) and surgery duration (p.value = 0.73) between two groups. Postoperative pain was significantly less in the bupivacaine group at 240 and 360 min after the surgery. The mean sedation score was higher in the bupivacaine group but not significantly. There was no significant difference between groups regarding the nausea and vomiting, the first analgesics request time and the start time of oral feeding.
Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, since administration of peritonsillar bupivacaine compared to acetaminophen had a better effect on managing postoperative pain and improving sedation and also since no complications were reported; therefore, peritonsillar infiltration with bupivacaine is suggested for pediatric tonsillectomy.
Keywords: Acetaminophen; Bupivacaine; Post-tonsillectomy pain.
© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.