In previous studies, it was shown that the post-tonsillectomy wound infiltration of bupivacaine can reduce postoperative pain.
The objective of this study is to determine whether the postoperative wound infiltration with a mixture of bupivacaine, mepivacaine
and adrenaline is more effective than the sole application of bupivacaine. A prospective, double-blind, randomized, control
study included 30 patients scheduled for “cold steel” tonsillectomy. All patients obtained post-tonsillectomy infiltration
of 6.25 mg bupivacaine alone on one side and 3.75 mg bupivacaine, 25 mg mepivacaine and 0.0125 mg epinephrine on the other
side (intra-individual study design). Intake of analgesics and postoperative pain was assessed 0–6 days after surgery by visual
analogue scale in inactivity and during swallowing by the nurse staff. Bleeding, dysphagia, pain, aspiration or extraordinary
pain sensation were registered by the patient. The pain scores did not differ between the groups. All patients received systemic
painkillers; 6 (20%) patients needed intravenous analgesics. Postoperative haemorrhage occurred in two patients without correlation
to a certain local anaesthetic. Two patients developed sinus tachycardia for 2.5 min after epinephrine infiltration. Because
of cost-effectiveness and complication rates, we recommend only post-tonsillectomy wound infiltration of bupivacaine. The
injection should be placed in superficial muscle and connective tissue. A stringent systemic analgesia regime is indispensable
for pain relief after tonsillectomy.
Keywords Tonsillectomy - Pain - VAS - Local anaesthetic - Infiltration - Mepivacaine - Epinephrine - Bupivacaine - Hemorrhage - Double blind - Randomized - Clinical trial - Pain management - Intraindividual - Interindividual - New study design