Comparison of oral versus rectal administration of acetaminophen with codeine in postoperative pediatric adenotonsillectomy patients.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether acetaminophen with codeine administered per rectum is an effective alternative for pain control compared with oral administration after an adenotonsillectomy.


METHODS
A prospective, randomized control study.


METHODS
Seventy-five children aged 1 to 5 were recruited for this study. Each child was assigned randomly to receive either rectal or oral postoperative pain medication. A journal with eight questions was kept for 10 days after the operation, and an overall survey of five questions was filled out at the first postoperative visit.


RESULTS
Postoperative pain was adequately controlled in those patients receiving suppositories when compared with those patients receiving oral pain medication. Adverse effects and total number of doses given per day were similar. Parents found the suppositories easy to administer, and more parents would switch or consider switching from oral pain medication to suppositories if given the choice.


CONCLUSIONS
The suppositories achieved equivalent pain control as oral medication with few side effects and good tolerance. Furthermore, many parents preferred the suppositories to oral medication in maintaining postoperative pain control because of ease of administration. If given the choice for future surgeries, many parents would switch or consider switching from oral pain medication to suppositories.
Owczarzak
Vicki
V
Department of OTO/HNS at Columbia, New York Presbyterian Hospital, 180 Fort Washington Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA. vlo22@drexel.edu
Haddad
Joseph
J
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000233:Adenoidectomy; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000285:Administration, Rectal; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003061:Codeine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013488:Suppositories; D014068:Tonsillectomy
D013488:Suppositories; D000082:Acetaminophen; D003061:Codeine