Pediatric anesthesia & critical care
A Triple‐Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial Comparing Hydromorphone vs. Fentanyl for Children Undergoing Tonsillectomy
Authors' conclusion
This study in children undergoing tonsillectomy found that intraoperative hydromorphone resulted in improved analgesia in the recovery room compared to fentanyl.
Study context
- Population
- Children aged 2–15 years undergoing bilateral tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy180 analysed
- Participants
- 188 children
- Comparison
- IV hydromorphone vs fentanyl intraoperatively
- Hydromorphonen = 90
- Fentanyln = 90reference
- Primary endpoint
- Number of patients requiring rescue IV opioid analgesia after endotracheal extubation
Methodological detailstriple-blind
- Triple-blind
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Difference
20.0 percentage points
95% CI 6.2–33.8
P = 0.005
Events by treatment group
Hydromorphone vs Fentanyl
difference 20.0 percentage points (95% CI 6.2–33.8); P = 0.005
Secondary outcomes
Pain scores, first 15 min postoperatively
- Lower mean pain scores with hydromorphone
MME in PACU
- Lower median MME with hydromorphone
Safety
Adverse events
- Incidence similar between the two groups
Original publication
A Triple‐Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial Comparing Hydromorphone vs. Fentanyl for Children Undergoing Tonsillectomy. Paediatr Anaesth. Published 18 June 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →