The analgesic effect of plain bupivacaine infiltration in the management of postoperative pain following adenotonsillectomy: A comparative randomized study
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Abstract
Background: Adenotonsillectomy, a common surgery performed by otorhinolaryngologists worldwide, has postoperative pain as its commonest complication in children, which has remained an unresolved burden. Several modalities have been employed for postoperative analgesia with limitations. The study aimed to assess the analgesic effect of plain bupivacaine infiltration after adenotonsillectomy in children. Materials and Methods: Ethical approval was obtained from the institution's Health Research and Ethics Committee. Eligible patients were randomized into group B (n=15) to receive plain bupivacaine infiltration and group P (n=15) to receive normal saline infiltration respectively. Pain scores and duration of analgesia were assessed and recorded. Data was collected and assessed using SPSS 21 for Windows. Numerical data was analyzed using unpaired Student t-test, while categorical data was analyzed using chi-squared test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Result: The pain scores were significantly lower in group B compared with group P. While all the patients received rescue analgesia at the 6th hour of the infiltration in group P, only one patient received rescue analgesia at the same time. More than 90% of the patients in group B did not receive rescue analgesia during the study period. The duration of analgesia was significantly (p=0.000) longer in group B compared to group P. Conclusion: Plain bupivacaine infiltration showed better analgesic profile with respect to lower pain scores, lower total analgesic consumption, and longer duration of analgesia when used for postoperative adenotonsillectomy pain relief in children. Keywords: Postoperative analgesia, Plain bupivacaine infiltration, Adenotonsillectomy, Children.
Dates & metrics
- Received
- 22 Feb 2026
- Accepted
- 5 May 2026
- Published
- 11 Jun 2026
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How to cite this article
Ihunanya AI, Joseph OC, Ugochi OR, John IO, Maduka EE, Moses AI. The analgesic effect of plain bupivacaine infiltration in the management of postoperative pain following adenotonsillectomy: A comparative randomized study. J. Sci. Innov. Anesthesiol. 2026;1(2):32-37. doi:10.65929/JSIA.2026.1.2.001
Ihunanya, A. I., Joseph, O. C., Ugochi, O. R., John, I. O., Maduka, E. E., & Moses, A. I. (2026). The analgesic effect of plain bupivacaine infiltration in the management of postoperative pain following adenotonsillectomy: A comparative randomized study. Journal of Scientific Innovations in Anesthesiology, 1(2), 32-37. https://doi.org/10.65929/JSIA.2026.1.2.001
Anokwute Iheanyi Ihunanya, Okonkwo Chinedu Joseph, Onuwdiwe Regina Ugochi, Iwueze Obinna John, Ekezie Ekene Maduka, and Ajaero Ikechukwu Moses. "The analgesic effect of plain bupivacaine infiltration in the management of postoperative pain following adenotonsillectomy: A comparative randomized study." Journal of Scientific Innovations in Anesthesiology, vol. 1, no. 2, 2026, pp. 32-37. https://doi.org/10.65929/JSIA.2026.1.2.001
Anokwute Iheanyi Ihunanya, Okonkwo Chinedu Joseph, Onuwdiwe Regina Ugochi, Iwueze Obinna John, Ekezie Ekene Maduka, and Ajaero Ikechukwu Moses. "The analgesic effect of plain bupivacaine infiltration in the management of postoperative pain following adenotonsillectomy: A comparative randomized study." Journal of Scientific Innovations in Anesthesiology 1, no. 2 (2026): 32-37. https://doi.org/10.65929/JSIA.2026.1.2.001
Ihunanya, A. I., Joseph, O. C., Ugochi, O. R., John, I. O., Maduka, E. E., and Moses, A. I. (2026) 'The analgesic effect of plain bupivacaine infiltration in the management of postoperative pain following adenotonsillectomy: A comparative randomized study', Journal of Scientific Innovations in Anesthesiology, 1(2), pp. 32-37. https://doi.org/10.65929/JSIA.2026.1.2.001
© 2026 the authors. Published by REVO Publication. This article is distributed under CC BY 4.0, which permits use and redistribution provided the original work is properly cited.