Post-tonsillectomy Pain Control in Adults

Summary

This is a randomized prospective study to determine the optimal postoperative pain medication regimen for adults (18 years old and older) undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy for chronic tonsillitis and/or snoring and/or obstructive sleep apnea. All participants will undergo the same tonsillectomy surgical technique (with or without adenoidectomy) under general anesthesia and be randomized to one of three postoperative pain control regimens (all of which are commonly used pain medications for post-tonsillectomy pain): 1. Norco (Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen) 2. Percocet (Oxycodone and Acetaminophen) 3. Dilaudid and Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Participants will be discharged home the day of surgery and will be sent home with questionnaires to assess their daily pain level, oral intake, amount of nausea/vomiting, and amount of pain medications taken for the 14 days following their surgery. Data will be collected and analyzed to determine if there is a difference in pain levels or oral intake or nausea/vomiting in the different pain regimen groups. Secondary endpoints will include weight change from preoperative weight to weight at 2-3 weeks after surgery in addition to postoperative complications including visits to the Emergency Department and post-tonsillectomy bleed rates. Participants will be seen 1-2 weeks following their surgery in the ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) clinic per normal postoperative protocol and will not require any specific clinic visits related to this study.

Timeline

Start

2016-01

Primary completion

2019-01-24

Completion

2019-01-24

Publications

• Background Lee SW, Jeon SS, Lee JD, Lee JY, Kim SC, Koh YW. A comparison of postoperative pain and complications in tonsillectomy using BiClamp forceps and electrocautery tonsillectomy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008 Aug;139(2):228-34. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2008.04.004.
• Background Parsons SP, Cordes SR, Comer B. Comparison of posttonsillectomy pain using the ultrasonic scalpel, coblator, and electrocautery. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006 Jan;134(1):106-13. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2005.09.027.
• Background Noordzij JP, Affleck BD. Coblation versus unipolar electrocautery tonsillectomy: a prospective, randomized, single-blind study in adult patients. Laryngoscope. 2006 Aug;116(8):1303-9. doi: 10.1097/01.mlg.0000225944.00189.e9.
• Background Diakos EA, Gallos ID, El-Shunnar S, Clarke M, Kazi R, Mehanna H. Dexamethasone reduces pain, vomiting and overall complications following tonsillectomy in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Clin Otolaryngol. 2011 Dec;36(6):531-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-4486.2011.02373.x.
• Background Thorneman G, Akervall J. Pain treatment after tonsillectomy: advantages of analgesics regularly given compared with analgesics on demand. Acta Otolaryngol. 2000 Oct;120(8):986-9. doi: 10.1080/00016480050218744.
• Background Naesh O, Niles LA, Gilbert JG, Ammar MM, Phibbs PW, Phillips AM, Khrapov AV, Robert AJ, McClintock A. A randomized, placebo-controlled study of rofecoxib with paracetamol in early post-tonsillectomy pain in adults. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2005 Oct;22(10):768-73. doi: 10.1017/s0265021505001274.
• Background Hiller A, Silvanto M, Savolainen S, Tarkkila P. Propacetamol and diclofenac alone and in combination for analgesia after elective tonsillectomy. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2004 Oct;48(9):1185-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2004.00473.x.
• Background Salonen A, Kokki H, Nuutinen J. Recovery after tonsillectomy in adults: a three-week follow-up study. Laryngoscope. 2002 Jan;112(1):94-8. doi: 10.1097/00005537-200201000-00017.
• Background Ashbach MN, Ostrower ST, Parikh SR. Tonsillectomy techniques and pain: a review of randomized controlled trials and call for standardization. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2007;69(6):364-70. doi: 10.1159/000108369. Epub 2007 Nov 23.

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