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Dissection tonsillectomy: pattern of post-operative pain, medication and resumption of normal activity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

P. Murthy  and
M. R. Laing
P. Murthy*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust, Inverness, UK.
M. R. Laing
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust, Inverness, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Mr P. Murthy, F.R.C.S. (ORL), Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust, Inverness 1V2 3UJ.
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Abstract

A prospective study of 99 adults undergoing tonsillectomy was carried out to determine the pattern of post-operative pain, intake of medication and timing of return to work and normal swallowing. The differences in the pain scores, as measured by a visual analogue scale, between every third consecutive day following post-operative day four were found to be highly significant (p<0.001). Sixty-six patients (66.6 per cent) required medication in the form of analgesics and/or antibiotics after the first post-operative day. Sixty-four out of a total of 82 patients (78.2 per cent) returned to work within 14 days of surgery. Ninety-six patients (97 per cent) reported normal swallowing within 14 days of surgery. These results suggest that the majority of adult patients undergoing tonsillectomy can be appropriately advised pre-operatively regarding the probable pattern and duration of post-operative pain and the timescales they can expect to return to work and normal swallowing.

Keywords

TonsillectomyPain, post-operative
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 112 , Issue 1 , January 1998 , pp. 41 - 44
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1998

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