Analgesic Effect of Ketamine and Morphine After Tonsillectomy in Children

A comparative double blind study of Ketamine and Morphine was conducted on eighty children following tonsillectomy to assess the analgesic, respiratory rate depressant and emesis. Children (6-12 years) were divided into two groups randomly (n=40). General anesthesia was induced followed by 0.1mg/kg morphine (I/M) and 0.5mg/kg ketamine (I/M) to Group I and Group II respectively before the initiation of surgical procedure. Pain scores (face score and CHEOPS score) were estimated for children at thirty, sixty, one hundred and twenty and two hundred and forty minutes following surgery. Comparison of CHEOPS score estimation reflected that pain scores were statistically significant (P < 0.05) in Group I receiving Morphine as compared to Group II who received Ketamine. The analgesic effect of ketamine and morphine showed statistically insignificant results (P >0.05) in case of face score. Moreover, respiratory rate in Group I had shown statistical association (p<0.05) as compared to the ketamine at 60 and 120 minutes. Furthermore, incidence of vomiting was more in Group I (0.05) as compared to Group II. It can be concluded from the study that ketamine may be used as a suitable substitute to that of morphine in children undergoing tonsillectomy.