Celecoxib and ketoprofen for pain management during tonsillectomy: A placebo‐controlled clinical trial

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of celecoxib and ketoprofen in pain management during tonsillectomy in 120 patients. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: The study was randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled with parallel groups. Sixty minutes before anesthesia induction and 12 hours after, the patients received a 200-mg celecoxib, a 100-mg ketoprofen, or a placebo capsule. After discharge, patients were prescribed either celecoxib or ketoprofen capsules to be taken every 12 hours. RESULTS: During the first 24 hours, the need for rescue analgesic was less in the ketoprofen-group (5 [1-9]) doses (median [range]) than in the placebo-group (6 [1-13]) ( P = 0.021), but similar to the celecoxib-group (5 [2-14]). After discharge, the cessation of pain during eating occurred earlier in the celecoxib-treated patients, after 10 (1-17) days, than in the ketoprofen-treated patients, after 12 (1-21) days, ( P = 0.008). One celecoxib-treated patient and 6 ketoprofen-treated patients ( P = 0.013) needed electrocautery to stop postoperative bleeding. CONCLUSION: Ketoprofen provided a better initial analgesic efficacy but after discharge the recovery with celecoxib was faster and the incidence of secondary hemorrhages was lower. SIGNIFICANCE: Celecoxib seems to be more effective and safe than ketoprofen for pain management after discharge in patients with tonsillectomy.