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Use of sucralfate as an analgaesic adjunct in paediatric tonsillectomy (pilot)

Feasibility and tolerability of the use of sucralfate as an analgaesic adjunct in paediatric tonsillectomy using the Parents Postoperative Pain Measure to assess pain (pilot)

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ANZCTR
Registry ID
ACTRN12615001354572
Enrollment
10
Registered
2015-12-14
Start date
2016-02-12
Completion date
2016-12-01
Last updated
2020-03-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

Sucralfate has some weak evidence of being effective in the management of posttonsillectomy pain in paediatric populations. However, the current literature is limited and has not reported side effect profiles. This pilot trial aims to identify any major side effects that would prevent the use of sucralfate as adjunct analgaesia. For this pilot, 10 children will be recruited preoperatively and randomised to either receive sucralfate or placebo solution. This will be in addition to the standard Monash Health posttonsillectomy analgaesia protocol. The children will gargel and swallow 5 mLs of the study mixture four times a day. Parents will be provided with a set of questionnaires to complete for each postoperative day, consisting of the parents’ postoperative pain measure, the functional limitation scale and the FACES pain scale – revised. They will also be asked about their child’s quality of sleep, how much analgaesia the child has received, any contact with medical practitioners required, whether their child tolerates the study mixture and any side effects they notice.

Interventions

Both control and experimental subjects will receive the standard pain management protocol (paracetamol 15 mg/kg QID, ibuprofen 5 mg/kg QID). In addition, the patients will be provided with sucralfate (or placebo). The sucralfate solution will be made up to 2 grams in 50 mL of a 1:1 combination of ORA-Sweet and ORA-Plus (a proprietary drug suspension solution) while the placebo will consist of a 1:1 combination of ORA Sweet and ORA-Plus with no further additives. After each set of doses of ibuprofen and paracetamol (four times a day), 5 mL of the study mixture will be gargled and swallowed by the child for the first seven days post-operatively. Parents will be asked to report frequency of provision of each drug.

Sponsors

Casey Hospital
Lead SponsorHospital

Study design

Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
All
Age
4 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Children aged 4-12 Undergoing tonsillectomy at Casey Hospital ASA 1 or 2

Exclusion criteria

Have known renal impairment with eGFR less than 60 mls/min/1.73m2 Are concurrently taking exogenous thyroid hormones Have a cognitive impairment, an intellectual disability or a mental illness that would impair communication Undergo tonsillectomy by cold methods or by coblation Do not receive intraoperative ropivicaine irrigation

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ANZCTR · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026