ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Tonsillectomy in children is the most commonly performed surgery in various otorhinolaryngology departments all over. Acute postoperative pain has adverse effects on the patients' morale as well as on physiological functions of the body. We aimed to compare the analgesic efficacy of diclofenac suppository over acetaminophen suppository for post tonsillectomy pain relief in pediatric age group
Methodology: 60 patients undergoing elective tonsillectomy were randomized into Group [A] [diclofenac group] and Group 'B' [acetaminophen group]. In diclofenac group patients received 2 mg/kg diclofenac, while in acetaminophen group patient received 20 mg/kg per rectum after induction of general anesthesia. Induction of anesthesia was same in both groups. Patients were monitored from 0 min [immediately after extubation, then after 10 min, 20 min and then 1 hourly till patients received rescue analgesic. Heart rate, mean arterial pulse, respiratory rate, pain at rest, pain on mouth opening, pain on swallowing and drowsiness were monitored. Pain was assessed by visual analogue scale [VAS] on a linear scale numbered from 0 to 10
Results: 14 [46.67%] patients needed rescue analgesic at llth hr in Group-A, while 16 [53.33%] patients in Group-B needed it at 8th hr, the difference being statistically significant [P<0.001]. Mean time to rescue analgesia in Group-A was 11.63 hrs and in Group-B was 7.53 hrs, the difference was statistically significant [P<0.001]. Visual analogue score [VAS] between the two groups showed significant increase in mean VAS in Group-B as compared to Group-A which was statistically significant. [P < 0.001]
Conclusion: We conclude that both diclofenac and acetaminophen suppositories were good postoperative analgesics when given by rectal route in pediatric age group undergoing tonsillectomy. Diclofenac sodium suppository provides better analgesia and its duration of action is longer as compared to acetaminophen suppository?