Individualized Analgesia After Adenotonsillectomy

Effects of an Individualized Analgesia Protocol on the Requirements of Medical Interventions After Adenotonsillectomy in Children Based on the Result of a Fentanyl Test: a Randomized Controlled Trial

A high incidence of respiratory morbidity after adenotonsillectomy is reported in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). So we designed a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study to determine the effects of individualized opioid analgesia compared with conventional opioid analgesia on respiratory morbidity after adenotonsillectomy in Children with OSAS.

All children were randomized 2 groups based on a computer-generated random number. The main interventions were occurred in post anesthetic care unit (PACU). In the operating room, all patients received a standardized anesthetic regimen by one anesthetist. Sevoflurane was used for maintenance without any opioids. Before the end of the procedure, spontaneous respiratory was recovered. All the patients were given 1 mcg/kg fentanyl intravenous injection after the end of the procedure. The positive result was defined as spontaneous respiratory rate decreased more than 50%, the others were defined as negative result. The result of fentanyl test submitted to assistant, and prepared the rescue analgesic drugs according to this result. One group: positive result 10μg/kg morphine; negative result 50μg/kg morphine. Another group: all received 25μg/kg morphine .The trachea was extubated when patients were awake, and then transported to the PACU. Patients with a Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale score>6 received rescue analgesic drugs and observe respiratory morbidity in each group.

One group: positive result 10μg/kg morphine; negative result 50μg/kg morphine.Scored every 10 minutes until CHEOPS<=6 and Aldrete score>9.

Another group: all received 25μg/kg morphine .Scored every 10 minutes until CHEOPS<=6 and Aldrete score>9.

The medical interventions included instrumentation of the airway, bag/mask ventilation, and/or drug administration (succinylcholine, albuterol, or naloxone), which were classified as major medical interventions. The medical interventions also included repositioning of the child's airway, chin lift/jaw thrust maneuvers, and/or escalating to an oxygen mask, which were classified as minor medical interventions. Since oxygen by nasal cannula was delivered to all children recovering from anesthesia, escalating to an oxygen mask implied the patient need but higher concentration of oxygen to maintain SpO2 ≥ 95%.

Pain was assessed and recorded through the East Ontario children's hospital pain score (CHEOPS).When the CHEOPS>6,We thought it is painful. Comparing the median survival time (the time corresponding to pain percentage of 50% in two groups) for CHEOPS>6 in two groups.

Inclusion Criteria: children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome undergoing elective T&A, ASA physical status I-II Exclusion Criteria: developmental delay cardiac and craniofacial abnormalities ASA classification III or more body mass index more than the 95th percentile for age

Guo J, Zhuang P, Liu K, Wan Y, Wang X. Effects of an individualized analgesia protocol on the need for medical interventions after adenotonsillectomy in children: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Anesthesiol. 2021 Feb 8;21(1):41. doi: 10.1186/s12871-021-01263-3.