This quasi-experimental study was carried out to assess the efficacy of intravenous Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen as perioperative pain relievers in children undergoing day-care tonsillectomy under general anesthesia.

The study encompassed pediatric patients aged 5-12 years undergoing day-care tonsillectomy with general anesthesia. Volunteers were segregated into two equal groups. Group I was given intravenous Ibuprofen at 7 mg/kg, while Group P received intravenous Paracetamol at 10 mg/kg immediately after anesthesia induction.

All the participants underwent standard general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. The revised faces pain score assessed immediately after recovery and at discharge 6 hours later was the  key outcome measure ascertained. Any adverse events were also recorded. Utilizing SPSS 26, data analysis was done.

Out of 100 volunteers, 50 (50%) were in Group I, including 21 (42%) boys and 29 (58%) girls, with a mean age of 7.82±1.903 years. The remaining 50 (50%) subjects were in Group P, comprising 25 (50%) boys and 25 (50%) girls, with a mean age of 7.68±1.812 years.

Initially, 44 (88%) subjects in Group I and 42 (84%) in Group P reported no pain, while 6 (12%) and 8 (16%) subjects in the respective groups reported pain (p=0.56). At discharge, 35 (70%) subjects in Group I and 18 (36%) in Group P reported no pain (p<0.001). No pivotal differences were witnessed in adverse events between the groups (p>0.05).

For perioperative care of pediatric patients (aged 5-12 years) undergoing day-care tonsillectomy, intravenous Ibuprofen demonstrated superior efficacy as a pain reliever compared to intravenous Paracetamol.