Current post-tonsillectomy analgesia practices among Australian and New Zealand anesthetists, and opinions on non-opioid alternatives

Children experience significant pain following extracapsular tonsillectomy surgery, and while opioids are often prescribed to treat this, clinicians may be wary of their adverse side effects, leading to variation in practice. There is a need for improved post-tonsillectomy pain management in children.

Citation:
Evans D, Sommerfield A, Sommerfield D, Hauser N, von Ungern-Sternberg BS. Current post-tonsillectomy analgesia practices among Australian and New Zealand anesthetists, and opinions on non-opioid alternatives. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2025;44(6).

Keywords:
Opioids; Pediatric; Postoperative analgesia; Tonsillectomy; Variation in practice

Abstract:
Children experience significant pain following extracapsular tonsillectomy surgery, and while opioids are often prescribed to treat this, clinicians may be wary of their adverse side effects, leading to variation in practice. There is a need for improved post-tonsillectomy pain management in children.