Tonsillectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the United States.
The primary indications for tonsillectomy in the adult population include recurrent
pharyngitis, chronic tonsillitis, and obstructive pathology. Tonsillectomy is often
associated with severe postoperative pain, which can result in prolonged poor oral intake,
dehydration, and the need for high dose narcotics. In severely dehydrated patients,
epithelial shedding and necrosis of soft tissues at the surgical site can lead to
postoperative complications such as bleeding, delayed healing, and severe pain. The goal for
this study is to explore the use of a long acting local anesthetic bupivacaine liposome
injectable suspension (Exparel) to manage pain experienced by adult patients after
tonsillectomy