Evaluation of Postoperative Morbidity in Pediatric Tonsillectomy with Sucralfate

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of sucralfate in alleviating posttonsillectomy morbidity in a pediatric group of patients Methods: A prospective double-blind, randomized, and controlled study comparing the irrigation of a solution containing either 1 g of sucralfate or 1 g of lactose was conducted on 58 children undergoing tonsillectomy, after the purpose and method of study were described to the parents, at Brasilia University Hospital. The anesthetic was standardized and no premedication was used; no analgesic drugs were used during the procedure. Tonsillectomy was performed using cold dissection by the same attending surgeon. Each patient used the same solution to swish and swallow 4 times daily during 7 days. Pain using Mcgraft analogue scale, vomiting and bleeding, time to return to normal diet, analgesic drugs intake, changes in the weight and temperature and interincisor teeth distance were assessed by the same author 6, 12 hours, and 7 days after the surgery. Results were compared between groups using t test and P value was considered statistic significant when it was less than 0.05. Results: We evaluated 29 children in each group with ages ranging from 3 to 12 years (mean, 6,2). We found no demographic difference between the groups. No patient was excluded from the study. No statistic difference between the groups was found comparing the parameters above, as well as, no difference was found in the evolutive assessment of the face scale for pain between the groups. Conclusion: Sucralfate showed no benefice in alleviating posttonsillectomy morbidity in this group of patients.