Ketoprofen for postoperative pain after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and tonsillectomy: two-week follow-up study

Abstract

Objective: In our previous study, we reported that both uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and tonsillectomy are associated with unacceptable intense pain during the first 24 hours after surgery. To investigate the pain progression at home, we followed the same 53 patients for 14 days after surgery. Twenty-two patients underwent tonsillectomy and 31 patients underwent UPPP.

Study design: A prospective, longitudinal, parallel-group study was conducted.

Methods: Beginning on the first postoperative day, the patients were allowed to use 50 mg ketoprofen capsules at a dosage of 5 mg/kg/24 hr. The patients evaluated their own pain four times a day for the first 5 days. Two weeks after the surgery during a follow-up visit patients reported the present pain; and a total consumption of analgesics, and all adverse events for 14 days.

Results: Patients in both study groups had significant pain, especially in the morning, for the first week after surgery. In half of the patients, severe pain interfered with eating and sleeping, and in one third of the patients, the pain lasted 2 weeks or longer. The need for ketoprofen was significantly higher after UPPP than that after tonsillectomy (P = 0.001). One patient after tonsillectomy and 3 patients after UPPP needed electrocautery to stop secondary bleeding.

Conclusions: Both UPPP and tonsillectomy are associated with intense postoperative pain. Standard ketoprofen capsules are too short-acting to ensure undisturbed sleep.