Transnasal Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block for Postoperative Pain and Recovery in Tonsillectomy (TONwoPA)
TONwoPA
Impact of Transnasal Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block on Pain Relief and Recovery Following Tonsillectomy
2 other identifiers
interventional
28
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The aim of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of transnasal transmucosal sphenopalatine ganglion block in reducing post-tonsillectomy pain. The study also investigates its impact on rescue analgesic requirements and postoperative recovery by comparing 5% lidocaine with placebo. Participants will receive a transnasal transmucosal sphenopalatine ganglion block with either 5% lidocaine or placebo (saline). Postoperative pain levels and opioid consumption will be monitored during the first 24 hours after surgery. In addition, length of hospital stay, the occurrence of primary and secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage up to 14 days, unplanned hospital readmissions after discharge, and patient satisfaction on postoperative day 14 will be assessed.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at below P25 for not_applicable
Started Jun 2025
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
June 1, 2025
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
January 19, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
January 27, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
June 1, 2026
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
June 15, 2026
January 27, 2026
January 1, 2026
1 year
January 19, 2026
January 19, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Postoperative NRS Score and Opioid Consumption
The NRS (Numeric Rating Scale) score will be used to assess the pain during follow ups. Scale: 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain). Higher scores on the NRS indicate worse pain.
Postoperative 1. 2. 4. 8. 16. and 24. Hours
Secondary Outcomes (2)
Parameters for Postoperative Complications and Recovery Process
Postoperative 14th Day
Feeding Tolerance and Time to First Tolerated Oral Intake
Postoperative 1.2.4.8.16. and 24. Hours
Study Arms (2)
Group Lidocain
EXPERIMENTALTransnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block will be performed using cotton-tipped applicators soaked with 5% lidocaine hydrochloride, which will be prepared by diluting 10% lidocaine hydrochloride with 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline).
Group Saline
SHAM COMPARATORIn the comparison group, a transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block will be performed as a placebo using cotton-tipped applicators soaked with 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline).
Interventions
Before the start of surgery, a preemptive transnasal transmucosal sphenopalatine ganglion block will be performed using cotton-tipped applicators. The assigned solutions will be administered via the applicators according to group allocation.
Transnasal Transmucosal Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block with Lidocaine %5
Transnasal Transmucosal Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block with Saline (0.9% NaCl)
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Patients aged ≥ 12 years
- Patients weighing ≥ 50 kg
- Patients without coagulation disorders
- ASA physical status I-II patients scheduled for tonsillectomy
- Patients who are fully oriented and able to cooperate
You may not qualify if:
- Lack of informed consent
- Patients aged \< 12 years
- Patients weighing \< 50 kg
- Body mass index (BMI) \> 30 kg/m²
- History of allergy to local anesthetics
- History of facial trauma or infection
- Presence of coagulation disorders
- Patients who are disoriented and/or unable to cooperate
- Patients with comorbidities requiring opioid use
- History of neuropathic pain
- Patients with chronic pain syndrome
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Ankara University
Ankara, Ankara, 06180, Turkey (Türkiye)
Related Publications (26)
Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics Twenty Second Edition Pediatric Pain Management Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, Chapter 93, 677-700.e2
BACKGROUNDRajan S, Sasikumar NK, Rudrahitlu V, Mathew J, Barua K, Kumar L. Effects of bilateral transmucosal sphenopalatine ganglion block on intraoperative anesthetic requirements and recovery profile in children undergoing palatoplasty under general anesthesia. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2023 Apr-Jun;39(2):220-225. doi: 10.4103/joacp.joacp_279_21. Epub 2023 Feb 3.
PMID: 37564832BACKGROUNDSphenopalatine ganglion block for the treatment of postdural puncture headache: a randomised, blinded, clinical trial British Journal of Anaesthesia, 124 (6): 739e747 (2020) doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2020.02.025
BACKGROUNDBucard BM, Assad AR, Vercosa N, Cavalcanti IL. Sphenopalatine ganglion block for postoperative analgesia after transsphenoidal hypophysectomy: A pilot study. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2025 Apr 1;42(4):368-370. doi: 10.1097/EJA.0000000000002112. Epub 2025 Jan 9. No abstract available.
PMID: 39789934BACKGROUNDRezaeian A, Hashemi SM, Dokhanchi ZS. Effect of Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block With Bupivacaine on Postoperative Pain in Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Sinus Surgery. Allergy Rhinol (Providence). 2019 Jan 23;10:2152656718821282. doi: 10.1177/2152656718821282. eCollection 2019 Jan-Dec.
PMID: 30719401BACKGROUNDPiagkou M, Demesticha T, Troupis T, Vlasis K, Skandalakis P, Makri A, Mazarakis A, Lappas D, Piagkos G, Johnson EO. The pterygopalatine ganglion and its role in various pain syndromes: from anatomy to clinical practice. Pain Pract. 2012 Jun;12(5):399-412. doi: 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2011.00507.x. Epub 2011 Sep 29.
PMID: 21956040BACKGROUNDRobbins MS, Robertson CE, Kaplan E, Ailani J, Charleston L 4th, Kuruvilla D, Blumenfeld A, Berliner R, Rosen NL, Duarte R, Vidwan J, Halker RB, Gill N, Ashkenazi A. The Sphenopalatine Ganglion: Anatomy, Pathophysiology, and Therapeutic Targeting in Headache. Headache. 2016 Feb;56(2):240-58. doi: 10.1111/head.12729. Epub 2015 Nov 30.
PMID: 26615983BACKGROUNDSmith L, Balakrishnan K, Pan S, Tsui BCH. Suprazygomatic maxillary (SZM) nerve blocks for perioperative pain control in pediatric tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. J Clin Anesth. 2021 Aug;71:110240. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2021.110240. Epub 2021 Mar 20. No abstract available.
PMID: 33756446BACKGROUNDMahrose R, Shorbagy MS, Kasem AA. Opioid Free Ptyregopalatine Ganglion Block Based Multimodal Anesthesia Versus Conventional Opioid Based Multimodal Anesthesia for Tonsillectomy Operations: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Anesth Pain Med. 2024 Jul 10;14(3):e146617. doi: 10.5812/aapm-146617. eCollection 2024 Jun.
PMID: 39416797BACKGROUNDVlok R, Melhuish TM, Chong C, Ryan T, White LD. Adjuncts to local anaesthetics in tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Anesth. 2017 Aug;31(4):608-616. doi: 10.1007/s00540-017-2310-x. Epub 2017 Jan 24.
PMID: 28120104BACKGROUNDAhmed SA, Omara AF. The Effect of Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block on Post-Tonsillectomy Pain of Children; Randomized Controlled Trial. Anesth Pain Med. 2019 Apr 30;9(2):e90854. doi: 10.5812/aapm.90854. eCollection 2019 Apr.
PMID: 31341828BACKGROUNDPark HP, Hwang JW, Park SH, Jeon YT, Bahk JH, Oh YS. The effects of glossopharyngeal nerve block on postoperative pain relief after tonsillectomy: the importance of the extent of obtunded gag reflex as a clinical indicator. Anesth Analg. 2007 Jul;105(1):267-71. doi: 10.1213/01.ane.0000266440.62424.f1.
PMID: 17578986BACKGROUNDMohamed SK, Ibraheem AS, Abdelraheem MG. Preoperative intravenous dexamethasone combined with glossopharyngeal nerve block: role in pediatric postoperative analgesia following tonsillectomy. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2009 Nov;266(11):1815-9. doi: 10.1007/s00405-009-0937-4. Epub 2009 Mar 5.
PMID: 19263066BACKGROUNDFedorowicz Z, van Zuuren EJ, Nasser M, Carter B, Al Langawi JH. Oral rinses, mouthwashes and sprays for improving recovery following tonsillectomy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Sep 10;2013(9):CD007806. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007806.pub4.
PMID: 24022333BACKGROUNDBean-Lijewski JD. Glossopharyngeal nerve block for pain relief after pediatric tonsillectomy: retrospective analysis and two cases of life-threatening upper airway obstruction from an interrupted trial. Anesth Analg. 1997 Jun;84(6):1232-8. doi: 10.1097/00000539-199706000-00011.
PMID: 9174298BACKGROUNDKelly LE, Sommer DD, Ramakrishna J, Hoffbauer S, Arbab-Tafti S, Reid D, Maclean J, Koren G. Morphine or Ibuprofen for post-tonsillectomy analgesia: a randomized trial. Pediatrics. 2015 Feb;135(2):307-13. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-1906.
PMID: 25624387BACKGROUNDColvin LA, Bull F, Hales TG. Perioperative opioid analgesia-when is enough too much? A review of opioid-induced tolerance and hyperalgesia. Lancet. 2019 Apr 13;393(10180):1558-1568. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30430-1.
PMID: 30983591BACKGROUNDNafziger AN, Barkin RL. Opioid Therapy in Acute and Chronic Pain. J Clin Pharmacol. 2018 Sep;58(9):1111-1122. doi: 10.1002/jcph.1276. Epub 2018 Jul 9.
PMID: 29985526BACKGROUNDSmith CR, Helander E, Chheda NN. Trigeminal Nerve Blockade in the Pterygopalatine Fossa for the Management of Postoperative Pain in Three Adults Undergoing Tonsillectomy: A Proof-of-Concept Report. Pain Med. 2020 Oct 1;21(10):2441-2446. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnaa062.
PMID: 32232479BACKGROUNDOzkiris M, Kapusuz Z, Saydam L. Comparison of three techniques in adult tonsillectomy. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2013 Mar;270(3):1143-7. doi: 10.1007/s00405-012-2160-y. Epub 2012 Aug 22.
PMID: 23010796BACKGROUNDPaganelli A, Ayari Khalfallah S, Brunaud A, Constant I, Deramoudt V, Fayoux P, Giovanni A, Mareau C, Marianowski R, Michel J, Mondain M, Schultz P, Treluyer JM, Wood C, Pondaven S, Nicollas R; SFORL Work Group. Guidelines (short version) of the French Oto-Rhino-Laryngology--Head and Neck Surgery Society (SFORL) for the management of post-tonsillectomy pain in adults. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2014 Sep;131(4):227-32. doi: 10.1016/j.anorl.2014.05.003. Epub 2014 Aug 5.
PMID: 25106699BACKGROUNDEricsson E, Brattwall M, Lundeberg S. Swedish guidelines for the treatment of pain in tonsil surgery in pediatric patients up to 18 years. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2015 Apr;79(4):443-50. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2015.01.016. Epub 2015 Jan 24.
PMID: 25677565BACKGROUNDPersino PR, Saleh L, Walner DL. Pain control following tonsillectomy in children: A survey of patients. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2017 Dec;103:76-79. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2017.10.016. Epub 2017 Oct 7.
PMID: 29224770BACKGROUNDAldamluji N, Burgess A, Pogatzki-Zahn E, Raeder J, Beloeil H; PROSPECT Working Group collaborators*. PROSPECT guideline for tonsillectomy: systematic review and procedure-specific postoperative pain management recommendations. Anaesthesia. 2021 Jul;76(7):947-961. doi: 10.1111/anae.15299. Epub 2020 Nov 17.
PMID: 33201518BACKGROUNDGerbershagen HJ, Aduckathil S, van Wijck AJ, Peelen LM, Kalkman CJ, Meissner W. Pain intensity on the first day after surgery: a prospective cohort study comparing 179 surgical procedures. Anesthesiology. 2013 Apr;118(4):934-44. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e31828866b3.
PMID: 23392233BACKGROUNDDarrow DH, Siemens C. Indications for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Laryngoscope. 2002 Aug;112(8 Pt 2 Suppl 100):6-10. doi: 10.1002/lary.5541121404.
PMID: 12172229BACKGROUND
MeSH Terms
Interventions
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- STUDY CHAIR
İbrahim Aşık, Professor
Ankara University
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- TRIPLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- MD Sıddık Aytuğ Medical Resident
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
January 19, 2026
First Posted
January 27, 2026
Study Start
June 1, 2025
Primary Completion (Estimated)
June 1, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
June 15, 2026
Last Updated
January 27, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-01
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share
Individual participant data will not be shared because the study was not designed with a data-sharing plan and to ensure participant confidentiality.