ENZYMATIC PREPARATIONS – AN ALTERNATIVE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY THERAPY

Abstract

Tonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure associated with significant post operative pain. It is a challenge for the treating surgeon to manage pain and maintain adequate hydration with minimal adverse effects. The goal of this study is to compare the efficacy and adverse effect of oral enzyme preparation over Diclofenac sodium (NSAID) in treating post operative pain. The study was done on 60 patients who underwent tonsillectomy in the age group 18-45 in Department of ENT.30 patients were put on oral Diclofenac for 2 weeks and other 30 patients were put on oral enzymatic preparation for 2 weeks. Patients were reviewed on 3^rd, 7^th, 14th post op day. Their symptoms were recorded according to the    WONG-BAKER FACIAL GRIMACE pain scale. At the end of two weeks 28 out of 30 patients (93%) on enzymatic preparations were on zero pain scale and 30 out of 30 (100%) on NSAIDS had zero pain scale but adverse drug reactions were seen in 22 out 30 patients (73.3%) with NSAIDS where as only 4 out of 30 (13.3%) with oral enzyme preparations had adverse effects. Post tonsillectomy pain is one of the difficult things to manage as it interferes with intake of food and hydration. Oral enzyme preparations play a significant role in reducing the pain with very minimal gastrointestinal side effects and can be used as a very effective alternative mode of treatment in such patients.