BACK GROUND AND AIM:

    The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of   0.25% bupivacaine infiltration in the base of anterior tonsillar pillar. for post op pain relief in children aged 7–12 administered after tonsillectomy  by  submucosal infiltration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

In this prospective study sixty healthy patients in the age group of 7–12 years belonging to ASA–Grade1 , scheduled to undergo elective bilateral tonsillectomy surgery for chronic tonsillitis under general anaesthesia, with surgery lasting to 20–40 minutes were included. Follwing surgery and effective hemostasis the control group was infiltrated  0.25% bupivacaine in the base of anterior tonsillar pillar. Pain score was monitored with the help of  mCHEOPS (modified Children Hospital Eastern Ontario Pain Score) scale at 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7&8 hours.

RESULTS:

The immediate post–op pain relief  as measured the mean pain score at 0 hours in the study group was statistically significant[0.5±0.6]  to  control group[1.8±1.8]  with (p=0.0001).The pain relief provided by the block in the first hour in study group was statically significant [1.1±0.9] to control group [6.4±1.6] with (p<0.0001).The duration of pain relief for  the study group was  significantly  higher than the control group[4.5±0.9] to [1.1±0.5]  with (p<0.0001 ).

The heart rate is significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group for upto 5 hour duration (104.4 ± 6.0 to 107.4 ± 5.8) p=0.05. The heart rate correlates with the post op analgesia provided in the group which received bupivacaine infiltration.

There was no complication observed following infiltration in either groups.

CONCLUSION:

Glossopharyngeal nerve block  with 0.25% bupivacaine provides  better post –tonsillectomy  pain relief  in post  operative period.