Sucralfate for posttonsillectomy analgesia

Pain is one of the most troublesome complications of tonsillectomy. The pai n appears as throat pain, otalgia, or both, and continues until mucosal rec overy on the tonsillar fossae is complete. Some surgical and hemostasis tec hniques may increase pain. Analgesics, antibiotics, steroids, and local and topical anesthetics are used to relieve posttonsillectomy pain, but none h as the desired effectiveness, The pain reliever must not increase bleeding and must have minimal side effects. Sucralfate, a basic amino salt of sucro se octasulfate, binds to the matrix protein of a peptic ulcer and produces a protective barrier, Tonsillectomy leaves two large ulcerous wounds, and s ucralfate may bind those wounds as it does peptic ulcers. In this controlle d study, the efficacy of sucralfate on posttonsillectomy throat pain, otalg ia, analgesic requirement, degree of strength, bleeding, body temperature, and mucosal recovery is investigated in 80 patients. Sucralfate is found to significantly reduce throat pain and analgesic requirement after surgery.