Effectiveness of perioperative bupivacaine infiltration in tonsillectomy patients.

PURPOSE

To determine the effectiveness of perioperative local anesthesia in tonsillectomy patients.

DESIGN

Two-group prospective, blinded, randomized study. Patients in one group received a local infiltration of 10 mL 0.5% bupivacaine solution, and in the other group they were infiltrated with 10 mL of normal saline.

RESULTS

Thirty-four adults agreed to participate in the study over a 2-year period, with 20 patients returning completed questionnaire forms. Regarding pain intensity over a 10-day period, oral analgesic use after surgery, and oral intake after surgery, there were no differences between the two groups, with P values of .25, .32, and .34, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The effect of perioperative local marcain infiltration in tonsillectomy patients was similar to placebo.