Comparison of Intravenous and Rectal Paracetamol for Pain Relief in Children Undergoing Tonsillectomy Surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUNDChildren undergoing Tonsillectomy have significant pain. Various modalities of treatment have been used to treat pain. Our aim is to compare the duration of analgesia and comfort of child with paracetamol administered through intravenous and rectal route. MATERIALS AND METHODS40 children undergoing tonsillectomy surgeries were randomised into two groups receiving either intravenous paracetamol (Group I) or rectal paracetamol (Group R) as suppositories. After induction and intubation, children were randomised to one of the groups. Haemodynamic parameters were recorded preop; intraop and post-operatively along with assessment of post-operative pain using Wong-Baker face pain scale for period of 10 hours. Kruskal-Wallis chi-square test was used to test the significance of difference between quantitative variables and Yate's chi square test for qualitative variables. RESULTSThus, duration of analgesia was significantly (p= 0.0029) higher in rectal group than in IV group. Comfort scores were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONThe post-operative pain scores were significantly higher in the intravenous group as compared to the rectal group. There was no difference in post-operative comfort.