Oral rinses, mouthwashes and sprays for improving recovery following tonsillectomy

Abstract

BackgroundThis is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in The Cochrane Library in Issue 1, 2010.Tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of lymphoid tissue, the palatine tonsil, which is located at the back of the throat. It is still commonly performed for patients who have recurrent bouts of acute tonsillitis. Although tonsillectomy is considered a fairly minor procedure, pain and bleeding are two of the most common complications; either may delay recovery and can on occasion lead to hospital readmission. Postoperative tonsillectomy medication should provide an adequate reduction in morbidity while minimising side effects, therefore topical agents would seem to be an ideal, safe option. A number of mouthwashes and topical sprays are available which offer pain relief or can help to reduce bleeding in the immediate postoperative period. ObjectivesTo assess the effects of oral rinses, mouthwashes and sprays in improving recovery following tonsillectomy.

The effect of flurbiprofen oral spray and ibuprofen vs ibuprofen alone on postoperative tonsillectomy pain: An open, randomised, controlled trial

“…Topical agents such as oral rinses, mouthwashes and sprays have been used to reduce post‐tonsillectomy pain. However, due to inadequate data and the poor reporting quality of most of the studies, reliable and comprehensive conclusions cannot be made …”

Pain management for pediatric tonsillectomy: An integrative review through the perioperative and home experience

“…Post surgery, children report the following therapies as being helpful: eating soft or cold foods (i.e., popsicles), drinking a lot, not talking too much, cold packs, comforting from their parents, distraction, relaxing/resting/sleep, and positioning (Idvall et al., ; Sutters et al., ). A Cochrane review suggests additional research is necessary to confirm if there are any effective pain relief outcomes from the use of either nonpharmacologic or pharmacologic oral rinses, mouthwashes, and sprays (Fedorowicz, Al‐Muharraqi, Nasser, Al‐Harthy, & Carter, ).…”

Arzneiverordnungs-Report 2010

“…Bei der Behandlung von Aphthen reduzierte Benzydamin weder die Anzahl der Läsionen, noch konnte der Wirkstoff die Schmerzen signifikant senken (Matthews et al 1987). In einem systematischen Review zum postoperativen Einsatz von Benzydamin nach Tonsillektomie finden sich ebenfalls keine ausreichenden Belege für eine analgetische oder entzündungshemmende Wirksamkeit (Fedorowicz et al 2010 , Harper et al 1995, Raetzke 1993. Eine 0,1 %ige Hexetidinlösung war bei Patienten mit Aphthen nicht effektiver als Placebo und hatte keinen zusätzlichen Nutzen für die Mundhygiene oder die Zahnfleischgesundheit (Chadwick et al 1991).…”