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Published on: November 6, 2019

Peritonsillar infiltration with tramadol improves pediatric tonsillectomy pain

Ahmed Atef1, Ahmed Aly Fawaz

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. amratef@dr.com

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology : Official Journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : Affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
|October 18, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Submucosal infiltration of tramadol effectively reduced postoperative pain in children after tonsillectomy. This method provided superior pain control compared to placebo, reducing the need for additional analgesics.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Anesthesiology
  • Pain Management
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Post-tonsillectomy pain management in children is challenging.
  • Tramadol is a known effective analgesic.
  • Evaluating novel drug delivery methods for pediatric pain is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the efficacy and safety of submucosal tramadol infiltration for pain control in pediatric tonsillectomy patients.
  • To compare tramadol submucosal infiltration with placebo for postoperative analgesia.
  • To evaluate the impact on analgesic requirements and sedation.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.
  • 40 pediatric patients undergoing bipolar diathermy tonsillectomy.
  • Randomized to receive submucosal infiltration of tramadol (2 mg/kg) or normal saline.

Main Results:

  • Tramadol submucosal infiltration provided superior postoperative analgesia for 4 hours.
  • Patients receiving tramadol required significantly fewer paracetamol doses in the first 12 hours.
  • No significant differences in sedation scores were noted between groups.

Conclusions:

  • Submucosal infiltration of tramadol is an effective strategy for superior postoperative pain management in children after tonsillectomy.
  • This method offers a promising alternative for enhancing analgesia and reducing rescue medication needs.
  • Tramadol submucosal infiltration demonstrates a favorable safety profile in this pediatric population.

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