Abstract:
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of magnesium
to levobupivacaine will decrease the postoperative analgesic requirement or
not, and to investigate the possible preventive effects on laryngospasm.
Methods: Seventy-five children undergoing elective tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy
surgery. The drug was prepared as only NaCl 0.9% for the first group (Group S,
n = 25), levobupivacaine 0.25% for the second group (Group L, n = 25), and levobupivacaine
0.25% plus magnesium sulphate 2 mg/kg for the third group (Group M, n = 25).
Pain was recorded at 15th minute, 1st, 4th, 8th, 16th, and 24th hour postoperatively.
Pain was evaluated using a modified Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario pain scale
(mCHEOPS). Incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) was assessed at
various time intervals (0—2, 2—6, 6—24 h) by numeric rank score. Patients were
followed for laryngospasm for 1 h in recovery room after extubation. Other complications
appeared within 24 h postoperatively were recorded.
Results: All postoperative CHEOPS values were lower than control in both groups.
Analgesic requirement was decreased significantly in both groups in comparison with
control patients, but this requirement was significantly lower in Group M ( p < 0.05).
Although laryngospasm was not observed in Group M, the difference between groups
was not statistically significant. PONV was similar in both groups.
