The Effect of Lesser Palatine Nerve Block on Pain after Elective Pediatric Tonsillectomy.
10.4097/kjae.2003.44.6.820
- Author:
Hyo Jung KIM
1
;
Sun Ok SONG
;
Chang Hoon LEE
;
Yoon Suk SON
;
Il Sook SEO
;
Sae Yeon KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. sosong@med.yu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Randomized Controlled Trial ; Original Article
- Keywords:
Lesser palatine nerve block;
pediatric tonsillectomy;
preemptive analgesia;
postoperative pain
- MeSH:
Child;
Facial Expression;
Humans;
Nerve Block*;
Pain, Postoperative;
Prospective Studies;
Tonsillectomy*
- From:Korean Journal of Anesthesiology
2003;44(6):820-827
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: This prospective, double-blind randomized study was performed to evaluate the analgesic effect of lesser palatine nerve block for postoperative pain control after a pediatric tonsillectomy, and to compare the analgesic effects of pre-emptive versus postoperative blocks. METHODS: Forty-eight ASA class 1 children, scheduled for an elective tonsillectomy were randomized into three groups. Patients received lesser palatine nerve blocks, using divided doses of 0.05 ml/kg of 0.2% ropivacaine, 5 min prior to the beginning of tonsillectomy (Pre-block group) or immediately after surgery (Post-block group). Patients allocated into the Control group did not receive any nerve block. Postoperative pain was measured immediately after surgery, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours following operation using a 0 to 4 points pain scale, based on a facial expression of pain scale ruler. Side effects and the number of analgesic injections were observed for 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: No significant differences in the pain scores were observed immediately after surgery and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours after operation in the three groups (P > 0.05). The number of analgesic injections was similar in the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study reveal that the lesser palatine nerve block was not effective for postoperative pain control following pediatric tonsillectomy, and that the pre-emptive block offered no pain control benefit over the postoperative block. Therefore, we do not recommend lesser palatine nerve blocks for the management of postoperative pain after pediatric tonsillectomy.
