Although tonsillectomy is considered to be a fairly minor procedure, pain and bleeding are two of the most common complications; either may delay recovery and can on occasion lead to hospital readmission. Postoperative tonsillectomy medication should aim to minimise some of these symptoms. A number of mouthwashes and topical sprays are available which offer pain relief or can help to reduce bleeding in the period just after surgery. This review, which included six studies involving 528 participants, found that lidocaine spray appeared to be more effective than a placebo NaCl (saline) spray at reducing the severity of pain but only until the third postoperative day. A small number of participants experienced a burning or stinging sensation when they used another spray containing benzydamine but this was not sufficient to discontinue its usage.
Further research should aim to provide reliable evidence for people to make informed decisions as to whether these treatments can be effective in reducing the most common symptoms and complications following tonsillectomy.