#10-Year Challenge: Local anaesthetic for post-tonsillectomy pain: Update meta-analysis.

Abstract

Adequate management of post-tonsillectomy pain is an important consideration in postoperative management after tonsillectomy. A 2008 meta-analysis showed that the use of local anaesthetic either by infiltration or topical application reduced postoperative pain. To review the current evidence for the use of local anaesthetic as a means of reducing post-tonsillectomy pain and compare current evidence to the previous meta-analysis 10years ago. Systematic literature searches of MEDLINE [*"ANESTHETICS, LOCAL"/ AND *TONSILLECTOMY/], EMBASE [*"LOCAL ANESTHETIC AGENT"/ AND *TONSILLECTOMY/] and PubMed [(Tonsillectomy).ti,ab AND (Local Anaesthetic).ti,ab OR (Local Anesthetic).ti,ab]. A meta-analysis of randomised control trials assessing the use of local anaesthetic agents for post-tonsillectomy pain. Twenty-three studies were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, local anaesthetic, applied topically or infiltrated, significantly reduces pain scores compared with controls at 4-6hours [-0.65 (95% CI: -0.77; -0.53)]; 24hours [-0.50 (95% CI: -0.66, -0.35)]; and 5-7days [-0.78 (95% CI: -0.90, -0.65)] (standardised mean differences). Current studies suggest that use of peri-operative local anaesthetic during tonsillectomy does improve postoperative pain outcomes. The limitations of the analysis are as follows: all studies are small, and a multi-centred larger trial is recommended to guarantee statistical reliability. There was no description of significant adverse side effects from local anaesthetic use.