Analgesia following adenotonsillar surgery in children: is Oramorph required in addition to paracetamol and ibuprofen?

Recent advice against codeine use in children prompted our unit to prescribe Oramorph as required, in addition to regular paracetamol and ibuprofen, as post-(adeno)tonsillectomy analgesia. This study investigated whether Oramorph was in fact required. Following (adeno)tonsillectomy, parents were telephoned and asked whether they used Oramorph. Of 56 children studied, 41 (73.2%) were given Oramorph. In the 15 (26.8%) that were not, this was because parents felt it was not required in 14 children, and in 1 case, it was due to worries about side effects. Overall, 14 carers (25.0%) expressed concerns about Oramorph use, mostly over possible side effects. When regular paracetamol and ibuprofen are used post-(adeno)tonsillectomy, nearly three quarters of children require Oramorph as well. Prescribing Oramorph as required, in addition to regular paracetamol and ibuprofen, is appropriate following adenotonsillar surgery.

Wei Chern Gan R ，Kamani T ，Daniel M 《-》

Oral morphine for pain management in paediatric patients after tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy.

The withdrawal of codeine for use in children following tonsillectomy enforced a change in our practice of providing regular paracetamol and ibuprofen, with codeine for breakthrough pain relief. Our objectives were to; examine the effectiveness of paracetamol and ibuprofen; examine the effectiveness of the addition of rescue (PRN) morphine to regular paracetamol and ibuprofen. A 2 cycle prospective audit was conducted on our unit. Telephone consultations were conducted with parents of 74 children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy. Cycle 1 (C1, without morphine) contained 24 consecutive patients and cycle 2 (C2, with morphine) contained 50 consecutive patients. Postoperative health service contact and outcome was recorded: worst pain scores on days 4 and 7 were obtained using validated pain assessment tools scoring 0-10. Cycle 2 results underwent subgroup analysis by method of surgery i.e. coblation (C2C) and cold steel dissection (C2D) groups. More than half of parents felt simple analgesia was not effective enough in both cycles, this number was significantly higher in both 2nd cycle groups (C1=54%, C2C=74%, p=0.003, C2D=84%, p=0.0001). Mean worst pain reported at day 4 was similar for all groups, but the morphine groups reported higher pain at day 7 (C1 1.6, C2C 3.59, p=0.017, C2D 3.90, p=0.002). Antibiotic prescribing for children contacting a GP after surgery was significantly lower in the morphine groups (C1 24%, C2C 7%, p=0.0014, C2D 5%, p=0.0002). There was no difference in measured outcomes between the 2nd cycle groups. This service evaluation found that postoperative morphine on an as-required basis, in addition to regular paracetamol and ibuprofen, did not significantly alter initial pain profile, worst pain scores or rate of health service contact when compared to regular paracetamol and ibuprofen alone. The majority of children in this study felt additional analgesia required. Children in the morphine groups experienced significantly less pharmacological intervention when contacting the GP after surgery.

Oremule B ，Johnson M ，Sanderson L ，Lutz J ，Dodd J ，Hans P ... -  《-》

Double-blind, placebo-controlled analgesic study of ibuprofen or rofecoxib in combination with paracetamol for tonsillectomy in children.

Pickering AE ，Bridge HS ，Nolan J ，Stoddart PA ... -  《BRITISH JOURNAL OF ANAESTHESIA》

Parental assessment of pain control following pediatric adenotonsillectomy: Do opioids make a difference?

Postoperative prescribing of opioids following pediatric adenotonsillectomy can have negative consequences including unnecessary opioid exposure and potential for respiratory depression. While guidelines from The American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery recommend treatment of post adenotonsillectomy pain using acetaminophen and ibuprofen, many providers continue to prescribe opioids and may do so, in part with concern for parental dissatisfaction with post-operative analgesia. Our aim was to determine whether a post-operative prescription for opioids affects parental assessment of pain control following pediatric adenotonsillectomy. This post-operative survey assessed the parental assessment of pain control in 324 patients, ages 1-17 years undergoing adenotonsillectomy. This study was conducted at a quaternary care children's hospital in Houston, Texas from December 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019. Post-operative pain regimens included acetaminophen and ibuprofen or combination hydrocodone/acetaminophen in addition to ibuprofen for post-operative analgesia based on the attending surgeons prescribing preferences. The primary study outcome was identification of the proportion of parents rating their child's analgesia following pediatric adenotonsillectomy as poor or inadequate based on the post-operative analgesic regimen including opioids. Of the 798 surveys sent, the response rate was 42% (324/775) of those who received the survey email, and 69% (324/470) for those who opened the email. Between the opioid and non-opioid groups, there was no difference in gender (male; 48% vs. 51.3%; p = 0.58), race/ethnicity (white; 53% vs. 46%; p = 0.35) or insurance status (insured; 62% vs. 50.9%; p = 0.06). The proportion of parents who rated their child's pain as poor or inadequately controlled following adenotonsillectomy was relatively rare: 9% and 5% in the non-opioid and opioid groups, respectively. Parents rating their child's pain as excellent with regards to pain control following adenotonsillectomy were 58% and 50% in the non-opioids and opioid groups respectively. The results of this study indicate that non-opioid analgesic regimens following pediatric adenotonsillectomy were not associated with decreased parental satisfaction or an increasing assessment of poor or inadequately controlled pain. Limiting opioid exposure following pediatric adenotonsillectomy is feasible and does not result in worse parental satisfaction with the analgesic plan.

Adler AC ，Mehta DK ，Messner AH ，Salemi JL ，Chandrakantan A ... -  《-》

A new analgesia regimen after (adeno) tonsillectomy in children: a pilot study.

The objective was to ascertain the efficacy of a new analgesic regimen introduced in children undergoing (adeno)tonsillectomy in view of the ban on codeine use in children <12 years by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Prospective pilot study at a paediatric tertiary referral centre. A total of 176 children undergoing (adeno) tonsillectomy over a 5-month period (Sept 2013-Jan 2014) were included in the study. Data were prospectively collected on analgesia used peri-operatively and patients were discharged on regular paracetamol and ibuprofen for 7 days and three doses of oral morphine sulphate solution to be used on days 3, 4 and 5. Pain scores were recorded on days 1-10 post-operatively using the Wong Baker Faces Pain Rating scale. The pain scores were significantly better (P-value < 0.0001) in children who were compliant with morphine (n = 93) than those who were not (n = 32). We also found that children who were compliant with morphine were less likely to seek help out of hours (P-value < 0.001). Oral morphine sulphate solution provides a reasonable alternative to codeine, albeit one should bear in mind that parental concerns and adverse effects of the drug were seen in a minority of patients (n = 11) and anaesthetists were reluctant to prescribe the drug in cases of severe OSA or associated central apnoeas (n = 7).

Syed MI ，Magos TA ，Singh J ，Montague ML ... -  《-》