Comparison of Effects of Peritonsillar Infiltration of Tramadol and Lidocaine in Relief of Post-tonsillectomy Pain

Background: Peritonsillar infiltrations of local anesthetics and/or locally active analgesic drugs have been used in several studies for relief of post-tonsillectomy pain with variable results in quality and duration of analgesia. Aim: This study was designed to compare the effects of peritonsillar infiltration of lidocaine versus tramadol or placebo on postoperative pain after tonsillectomy. Methods: Sixty patients, ASA physical status I–II, aged above ten years, undergoing bilateral elective tonsillectomy under general anaesthesia, were randomized into three groups to receive peritonsillar infiltration after tonsillectomy was performed: Group (T) received 2 mg × kg-1 tramadol in 8 ml of normal saline (4 ml per tonsil); Group (L) received 2 mg × kg-1 lidocaine 2% in 8 ml of normal saline, In both groups, the injection volume was 8 mL containing 1/200,000 adrenalin, and; Group (S) received 8 ml normal saline only, before tracheal extubation. The patients in each group were compared postoperatively with regard to the quality of pain control using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and their analgesic requirements. Results: Peritonsillar infiltration of tramadol provided analgesic effect in the first 6 postoperative hours comparable to that of lidocaine as reflected by lower recovery room VAS pain scores than that of placebo group (P < 0.05) and also for opioid requirements (P < 0.01). VAS pain scores and analgesic requirements were similar among the two groups (T) and (L). Conclusions: