A Prospective Clinical Trial Evaluating the Post-Operative Analgesic Effects of Acetaminophen Given Per Os and Intravenous

Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) is one of the most common Ear Nose and Throat Surgeries done in the United States annually. This procedure can vary from intense to moderate pain and as such it is difficult to properly gauge and treat postoperative pain in these patients. Commonly used in these cases, opioid drugs are given to provide adequate analgesia, however higher opioid usage is observed to cause increased Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) stays, respiratory complications and Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV). Acetaminophen is commonly used as an adjunct in these circumstances because of its opioid sparing properties.

Acetaminophen is a synthetic nonopioid p-aminophenol derivative available over the counter. Its properties include analgesic and antipyretic qualities and it is listed on the world health organization's list of essential medicines. The potential risks include liver damage, skin reactions and drug interactions when used with blood thinners at high doses. Acetaminophen has been extensively researched, in vitro and in vivo studies have found the drug to be safe when used at proper doses. Recently intravenous use of acetaminophen has gained popularity due to ease of use and ability to be given intraoperatively. This form of acetaminophen, although convenient, is around sixty two times the cost of oral acetaminophen. Due to this increased cost it is imperative that the investigators compare the two routes of administration in order to determine if the additional cost is justified.