Does topical ropivacaine reduce the post-tonsillectomy morbidity in pediatric patients?

Summary Objectives To determine whether post-operative administration of topical ropivacaine hydrochloride decreases morbidity following adenotonsillectomy. Study Design Prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Setting University referral center; ENT Department. Participants Fourty one children, aged 4–16 years, undergoing tonsillectomy. Methods Patients received 1.0% ropivacaine hydrochloride soaked swabs packed in their tonsillar fossae while the control group received saline-soaked swabs. Mc Grath's face scale was used to compare the two groups in respect of pain control. Chi-square and two-tailed unpaired Student's t -tests or Mann–Whitney- U -tests were used to compare the two independent groups. As 10 we made 11 comparision between groups, for Bonferroni correction, p Results Only first hour there was no significant pain-relieving effect seen in the ropivacaine group ( p  > 0.05). The other hours and days there were statistically significance between the two groups ( p Conclusion Locally 1.0% ropivacaine administiration significantly relieves the pain of pediatric tonsillectomy and, it is a safe and effective method. High concentrations of ropivaciane may produce clinically significant pain relief. It is more effective to reduce of post-operative analgesic requirement after first hour.