Ultrasound-Guided Selective Glossopharyngeal and Maxillary Nerve Blocks for Analgesia After Tonsillectomy: A Pilot Study

Purpose Postoperative pain management methods for tonsillectomy commonly include the use of opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and acetaminophen. However, some patients report pain despite the use of these medications. In recent years, ultrasound-guided selective glossopharyngeal nerve block (UGSGNB) and ultrasound-guided maxillary nerve block (UGMNB) have been reported to be effective for analgesia post-tonsillectomy. We retrospectively analyzed the effects of UGSGNB and UGMNB in the perioperative management of patients who underwent tonsillectomy under general anesthesia. Methods This retrospective study evaluated adults (18-61 years old) who had received general anesthesia for tonsillectomy. The control group comprised 25 patients who received general anesthesia using the standard protocol, and the nerve block group comprised 10 patients who also received additional UGGNB and UGMNB. Results While these nerve blocks may have contributed to improving the postoperative food intake, they did not reduce the frequency of postoperative analgesia used. Improved dietary intake after UGSGNB and UGMNB could be advantageous for postoperative recovery. Conclusion Further research with a larger number of cases and prospective intervention studies are necessary to determine the effects of combining UGSGNB and UGMNB for post-tonsillectomy analgesia.