A Randomized Controlled Trial on Analgesic Effects of Intravenous Acetaminophen versus Dexamethasone after Pediatric Tonsillectomy

Effect of Preoperative Dexamethasone on Postoperative Pain in Patients Undergoing Tonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide. Postoperative pain remains a significant problem for patients undergoing tonsillectomy and is the most typical reason for readmission after the procedure. We conducted the present study to investigate the efficacy of a single dose of dexamethasone administered intravenously before tonsillectomy on postoperative pain in a group of patients undergoing cold dissection tonsillectomy, using a standardised anaesthetic and surgical procedure.It was a prospective study done in the Department of ENT in a tertiary care centre in eastern India, from 1 st September 2017 to 31 st August 2019 (2 years). Subjects included in the study were patients who attended the OPD of ENT of the tertiary care centre in eastern India, with a history of throat pain,difficulty in deglutition, mouth breathing, snoring. Tonsillectomy operation was recommended to the patients who fit the inclusion criteria. A hundred patients were selected for the study and divided randomly into two groups. Patients in group A (50 patients) were administered preoperative intravenous dexamethasone (0.15 mg/kg)after the induction of anaesthesia, and Group B patients (50 patients)were not administered dexamethasone along with other drugs.RESULTS: A hundred patients were enrolled after excluding the patients not fulfilling the selection criteria. The majority of patients were female, with the majority patients between 9-19 years. There was a noteworthy decreased mean pain score postoperatively of Group A on the first, third, and fifth day. (p-value = < 0.001).The results of this study suggest that a single preoperative injection of dexamethasone for patients undergoing tonsillectomy by cold dissection method significantly reduced postoperative pain.

A scoping review of randomized clinical trials for pain management in pediatric tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy

Objectives

To examine the volume, topics, and reporting trends in the published literature of randomized clinical trials for pharmacologic pain management of pediatric tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy and to identify areas requiring further research.

Data Sources

PubMed (National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health), Scopus (Elsevier), CINAHL (EBSCO), and Cochrane Library (Wiley).

Methods

A systematic search of four databases was conducted. Only randomized controlled or comparison trials examining pain improvement with a pharmacologic intervention in pediatric tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy were included. Data collected included demographics, pain-related outcomes, sedation scores, nausea/vomiting, postoperative bleeding, types of drug comparisons, modes of administration, timing of administration, and identities of the investigated drugs.

Results

One hundred and eighty-nine studies were included for analysis. Most studies included validated pain scales, with the majority using visual-assisted scales (49.21%). Fewer studies examined pain beyond 24 h postoperation (24.87%), and few studies included a validated sedation scale (12.17%). Studies have compared several different dimensions of pharmacologic treatment, including different drugs, timing of administration, modes of administration, and dosages. Only 23 (12.17%) studies examined medications administered postoperatively, and only 29 (15.34%) studies examined oral medications. Acetaminophen only had four self-comparisons.

Conclusion

Our work provides the first scoping review of pain and pediatric tonsillectomy. With drug safety profiles considered, the literature does not have enough data to determine which treatment regimen provides superior pain control in pediatric tonsillectomy. Even common drugs like acetaminophen and ibuprofen require further research for optimizing the treatment of posttonsillectomy pain. The heterogeneity in study design and comparisons weakens the conclusions of potential systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Future directions include more noninferiority studies of unique comparisons and more studies examining oral medications given postoperatively.

Perioperative Acetaminophen and Dexmedetomidine Eliminate Post-Operative Opioid Requirement following Pediatric Tonsillectomy

Administration of post-operative opioids following pediatric tonsillectomy can elicit respiratory events in this patient population that often arise as central and obstructive sleep apnea. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether a perioperative combination of dexmedetomidine and acetaminophen could eliminate post-operative (in recovery and at home) opioid requirements. Following IRB approval and a waiver for informed consent, the medical records of 681 patients who underwent tonsillectomy between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2018 were evaluated. Between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015, all patients received a fentanyl-sevoflurane-based anesthetic, without acetaminophen or dexmedetomidine, and received opioids in recovery and for discharge home. On 1 January 2016, an institution-wide practice change replaced this protocol with a multimodal perioperative regimen of acetaminophen (intravenous or enteral) and dexmedetomidine and eliminated post-operative opioids. This is the first time that the effect of an acetaminophen and dexmedetomidine combination on the perioperative and home opioid requirement has been reported. Primarily, we compared the need for rescue opioids in the post-anesthesia care period and after discharge. The multi-modal protocol eliminated the need for post-tonsillectomy opioid administration. Dexmedetomidine in combination with acetaminophen eliminated the need for post-operative opioids in the recovery period.

Guidelines for Opioid Prescribing in Children and Adolescents After Surgery: An Expert Panel Opinion

IMPORTANCE

Opioids are frequently prescribed to children and adolescents after surgery. Prescription opioid misuse is associated with high-risk behavior in youth. Evidence-based guidelines for opioid prescribing practices in children are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To assemble a multidisciplinary team of health care experts and leaders in opioid stewardship, review current literature regarding opioid use and risks unique to pediatric populations, and develop a broad framework for evidence-based opioid prescribing guidelines for children who require surgery.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

Reviews of relevant literature were performed including all English-language articles published from January 1, 1988, to February 28, 2019, found via searches of the PubMed (MEDLINE), CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Pediatric was defined as children younger than 18 years. Animal and experimental studies, case reports, review articles, and editorials were excluded. Selected articles were graded using tools from the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine 2011 levels of evidence. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument was applied throughout guideline creation. Consensus was determined using a modified Delphi technique.

FINDINGS

Overall, 14 574 articles were screened for inclusion, with 217 unique articles included for qualitative synthesis. Twenty guideline statements were generated from a 2-day in-person meeting and subsequently reviewed, edited, and endorsed externally by pediatric surgical specialists, the American Pediatric Surgery Association Board of Governors, the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Surgery Executive Committee, and the American College of Surgeons Board of Regents. Review of the literature and guideline statements underscored 3 primary themes: (1) health care professionals caring for children who require surgery must recognize the risks of opioid misuse associated with prescription opioids, (2) nonopioid analgesic use should be optimized in the perioperative period, and (3) patient and family education regarding perioperative pain management and safe opioid use practices must occur both before and after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

These are the first opioid-prescribing guidelines to address the unique needs of children who require surgery. Health care professionals caring for children and adolescents in the perioperative period should optimize pain management and minimize risks associated with opioid use by engaging patients and families in opioid stewardship efforts.

PROSPECT guideline for tonsillectomy: systematic review and procedure-specific postoperative pain management recommendations

Tonsillectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures; however, pain management remains challenging. Procedure‐specific efficacy as well as specific risks of treatment options should guide selection of pain management protocols based on evidence and should optimise analgesia without harm. The aims of this systematic review were to evaluate the available literature and develop recommendations for optimal pain management after tonsillectomy. A systematic review utilising preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analysis guidelines with procedure‐specific postoperative pain management (PROSPECT) methodology was undertaken. Randomised controlled trials published in the English language up to November 2019 assessing postoperative pain using analgesic, anaesthetic or surgical interventions were identified. Out of the 719 potentially eligible studies identified, 226 randomised controlled trials met the inclusion criteria, excluding the studies examining surgical techniques. Pre‐operative and intra‐operative interventions that improved postoperative pain were paracetamol; non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs; intravenous dexamethasone; ketamine (only assessed in children); gabapentinoids; dexmedetomidine; honey; and acupuncture. Inconsistent evidence was found for local anaesthetic infiltration; antibiotics; and magnesium sulphate. Limited evidence was found for clonidine. The analgesic regimen for tonsillectomy should include paracetamol; non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs; and intravenous dexamethasone, with opioids as rescue analgesics. Analgesic adjuncts such as intra‐operative and postoperative acupuncture as well as postoperative honey are also recommended. Ketamine (only for children); dexmedetomidine; or gabapentinoids may be considered when some of the first‐line analgesics are contra‐indicated. Further randomised controlled trials are required to define risk and combination of drugs most effective for postoperative pain relief after tonsillectomy.

Combined intraoperative paracetamol and preoperative dexamethasone reduces postoperative sore throat: a prospective randomized study

PURPOSE

Postoperative sore throat (POST) after general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation is a common and undesirable complication. In this study, we evaluated the combined effects of paracetamol and dexamethasone on the prevention of POST in patients after general anesthesia.

METHODS

A total of 226 patients scheduled for urologic surgery under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to one of two groups. In the DexaPara group (n = 113), dexamethasone (10 mg) and paracetamol (1000 mg) was infused. In the Dexa group (n = 113), dexamethasone (10 mg) alone was given. POST, hoarseness, and dysphagia were monitored. The postoperative wound pain score and perioperative opioid requirements were compared. In addition, complications related to opioids were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of POST was lower in the DexaPara group than in the Dexa group [42 (37%) vs. 72 (64%), p < 0.001]. The incidence of POST while resting at postoperative 1 and 6 h was lower in the DexaPara group than in the Dexa group (p = 0.008 and p = 0.004, respectively). The incidence of postoperative nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, shivering, and headache was comparable between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Paracetamol and dexamethasone infusion reduced the incidence of POST without serious complications in patients for urologic surgery under general anesthesia.

Effectiveness of hyaluronic acid in post-tonsillectomy pain relief and wound healing: a prospective, double-blind, controlled clinical study

OBJECTIVES

To find the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid in post-tonsillectomy pain relief and wound healing.

METHODS

Fifty patients were included in this prospective, double-blind, controlled clinical study (20 males, 30 females mean age of 13.56 years). Hyaluronic acid was applied to one side and the other side was used as a control during tonsillectomy. Therefore, the same patient evaluated and scored the post-tonsillectomy pain, excluding individual bias.

RESULTS

Results indicated that patients had significantly lower pain scores for hyaluronic acid treated side (p<0.001). At the end of two weeks follow-up period, the wound in the hyaluronic acid side was almost completely healed, indicating that the healing was faster with hyaluronic acid compared to control side (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Hyaluronic acid could be recommended as an effective treatment for the management of post-tonsillectomy pain and wound healing.