Improved pain relief for children after tonsil removal
Revolutionizing Pediatric Tonsillectomy Pharmacology and Therapeutics
This project tests safer, age‑tailored pain medicine plans to help children feel less pain after tonsillectomy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181499 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child is having a tonsillectomy, the team will compare different pain‑medicine regimens designed for specific ages to find what controls pain best with the fewest side effects. Families may be asked to follow dosing plans, report pain scores and side effects after surgery, and allow medical record review of opioid use and recovery. Researchers will collect and analyze these real‑world outcomes to identify safer dose ranges and better prescribing practices. The work focuses on practical changes clinicians can use after tonsil removal to reduce both under‑treatment of pain and unnecessary opioid exposure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children scheduled to undergo tonsillectomy—particularly younger children and those at risk for moderate to severe postoperative pain—are the main candidates for participation.
Not a fit: Adults, people not having tonsillectomy, and children with unrelated chronic pain conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to clearer, safer pain‑management plans that reduce children's pain and limit unnecessary opioid exposure after tonsillectomy.
How similar studies have performed: Opioids remain the standard for significant postoperative pain and some multimodal approaches have shown promise, but precise age‑specific dosing after pediatric tonsillectomy is not yet well established.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Einhorn, Lisa M. — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Einhorn, Lisa M.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.