Assessment of the Management of Post-Tonsillectomy Pain at the ENT-CFS Department of Ignace Deen National Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Tonsillectomy is described as one of the oldest surgical procedures according to the authors of the surgical treatise (Aulus Amida and Paul of Aegina in the 6th and 7th centuries) found in the Vatican library. The contraindication of codeine in children has changed the management of post tonsillectomy pain. The aim of this study was to assess the management of post tonsillectomy pain in our developing country context. Methods: This was a prospective, analytical study lasting 6 months (September 2019-February 2020), carried out in the ENT/CFS department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital. We included in this study all patients who underwent a tonsillectomy in the department during the study period and who agreed to participate in the survey. Results: 34 patients were included in our study, i.e. a frequency of 25% of surgical interventions. The mean age of our patients was 18.06 ± 12 years with extremes of 03 years and 45 years. Recurrent hypertrophic tonsillitis with sleep disturbances was the most frequent indication for surgery in our study, at 47.06% (n = 16). We performed an isolated tonsillectomy in 52.9% (n = 18) of cases. Analgesia was multimodal using the WHO Step I and II analgesics in 44.1% (n = 15) and 55.9% (n = 19), respectively. Pain control was satisfactory in all patients. Conclusion: The evaluation of post tonsillectomy pain is essential for optimal management. In this indication, multimodal analgesia, involving several levels I and II analgesics, provided satisfactory pain control.