A prospective randomized controlled study of the efficacy of ketamine for postoperative pain relief in children after adenotonsillectomy.
BACKGROUND
Adenotonsillectomy is commonly needed by children with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. This population is at high risk of life threatening airway obstruction in the postoperative period.


METHODS
Fifty children were studied to test the efficacy of an alternative analgesic to the use of opioids in providing analgesia in the immediate postoperative period. Patients were randomized to receive either 0.1 mg.kg-1 morphine or 0.5 mg.kg-1 ketamine at induction.


RESULTS
Ketamine was as effective as morphine with no additional side-effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Ketamine is a safe and effective alternative to morphine to provide analgesia in the immediate postoperative period after tonsillectomy.
Aspinall
R L
RL
Anaesthetic Department, Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK.
Mayor
A
A
D000233:Adenoidectomy; D000293:Adolescent; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007649:Ketamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014068:Tonsillectomy
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D007649:Ketamine; D009020:Morphine