[The efficacy of preoperative local bupivacain application on postoperative pain in patients who had undergone tonsillectomy].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of preoperative local bupivacain application on postoperative pain and complications in tonsillectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourty-five patients (mean age 8.07+/-3.34 years; range 4 to 20 years) who had undergone tonsillectomy were included in this study and they were divided into two groups. Study group included 30 patients and were preoperatively injected with 2.5 ml 0.5% bupivacain in each peritonsillar area. Control group included 15 patients and were injected with 0.9% NaCl. Both groups were compared with respect to operation and anesthesia duration, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative pain parameters (15. minute, 1, 4, 12, 16. and 24. hours).

RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in operation or anesthesia duration and intraoperative bleeding between two groups (p>0.05). Postoperative pain at the 15th minute, and 1st hour, were significantly lower in controls when compared with study group (p<0.05). While these values were significant for the postoperative 15th minute, they were not significant for the 1st hour. Postoperative pain score at the 4th hour was significantly lower in the study group when compared with the control group (p<0.05). Postoperative pain score at the 24th hour was considerably lower in the study group when compared with the control group (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Preoperative local bupivacain application reduces postoperative pain especially at the 24th hour in patients who have undergone tonsillectomy.