Publication:

The randomised prospective comparative study to see the duration of analgesia following intravenous or rectal acetaminophen after adenotonsillectomy in children

Background The greatest advance in pediatric pain medicine is the recognition that untreated pain is a significant cause of morbidity and even mortality after surgical trauma. Author compared the analgesic efficacy and duration of analgesia of rectal acetaminophen and I.V. acetaminophen.

Methods A total of 80 children in the age group of 2-5 years were randomly selected and divided into 2 groups. Group I received 15 mg/kg I.V. paracetamol and group II received 40 mg/kg rectal acetaminophen. Post-operative pain scores were measured using Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability scale and duration of analgesia were recorded and compared.

Results The pain scores in group I was lower immediately after extubation and at 30 minutes post extubations but at one, two and four hours the pains score were comparable in both the groups. At 6 hours, the pain score was significantly more in I.V. group and also the duration of analgesia was 9-10 hours in rectal acetaminophen group where as in I.V. group, it was 5-6 hours.

Conclusions Rectal acetaminophen 40 mg/kg produces prolonged analgesia as compared to I.V. paracetamol 15 mg/kg and also is more convenient and cost effective and is devoid of side effects of I.V. cannulation.