title: Evaluation of early postoperative morbidity in pediatric tonsillectomy with the use of sucralfate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of sucralfate in alleviating posttonsilectomy morbidity in a pediatric group of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled study comparing the irrigation of a solution containing either 1g of sucralfate (study group) or 1g of lactulose (control group) was performed on 69 children aged 3-12 years, who underwent tonsillectomy at the University Hospital of Brasilia Medical School. The children were randomly assigned and each one used a solution containing sucralfate or lactulose to swish and swallow four times daily during 7 days. Eleven patients were excluded. The anesthetic was standardized and no premedication was used. Pain magnitude using an "Oucher" scale, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, earache, analgesic drug intake, changes in the interincisor teeth distance, and changes in the weight and temperature were assessed by the surgeon 6, 24h, and 7 days after the surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the study group had significantly lower pain scores in the initial 6 postoperative hours (p<0.05). The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant for the other periods following the procedure or on the evaluation of the other indices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of the sucralfate in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy was not effective in reducing the postoperative morbidity according to the parameters used in this study. The surgical technique with careful mucosal dissection associated with postoperative caries could be more important in the reduction of posttonsilectomy morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Brasília University Medical School, University of Brasília, Brazil. andremarjy@uol.com.br
authors.forename: André L L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.forename: Thaís Gonçalves
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Paula Lobo
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.forename: Mercedes F S
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Carlos A C P
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Olivieira
mesh_terms: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013392:Sucralfate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D013392:Sucralfate