The effect of half percent oxymetazoline nasal drops on post-tonsillectomy cough, sore throat and bleeding in children; a double-blind randomized clinical trial

Background: Considering the high prevalence of tonsillectomy in children and concerns of postoperative management, this study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the effects of oxymetazoline on bleeding, cough, and sore throat in children undergoing tonsillectomy. Materials and Methods: The current double-blind clinical trial study was conducted on 88 tonsillectomy candidate patients. These patients were randomly divided into two groups. In the first group, oxymetazoline 0.05% nasal spray (OXY group) and in the second group, distilled water spray (Control group) was prescribed as one puff in each nostril immediately after anesthesia induction., the nasal spray was prescribed again in both nostrils at 12 h after tonsillectomy. Then the hemodynamic parameters, post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) and sore throat were evaluated. Results: The mean of the sore throat of children was not significantly different between the two groups in any of the follow-up times (P value >0.05). PTH in recovery and in the ward in the OXY group with the mean of 57.60 +/- 71.82 ml and 22.11 +/- 22.50 ml, respectively, was significantly lower than the control group (83.50 +/- 113.64 ml and 27.52 +/- 35.11 ml) (P value < 0.05). Also, the frequency of cough in the ward in the OXY group with 27.3% was significantly lower than the control group with 56.8% (P value = 0.005). Conclusion: Regarding the results of the present study, sore throat and hemodynamic parameters did not change significantly with the administration of oxymetazoline. But this drug has played a significant role in reducing PTH and cough in children.