Pediatric Tonsillectomy
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780190856649.003.0025
Pediatric tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy are two of the most common surgical procedures performed on children. Tonsillectomy is a painful procedure and strategies to provide adequate analgesia are often complicated by opioid related adverse effects, particularly when the child has coexisting obstructive sleep apnea, obesity, or congenital disorders. A safe and effective multimodal analgesic plan for post-tonsillectomy pain may include adjuncts such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, dexamethasone, and/or dexmedetomidine to reduce overall opioid usage during the perioperative period. The goal of perioperative analgesia after tonsillectomy is not necessarily to provide a pain-free state, but rather to preserve adequate respiratory function and provide enough analgesia to promote enteral hydration and adequate nutrition during the first few days following surgery, as most children recover quite rapidly from this surgical procedure.
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