IV Acetaminophen in Children Undergoing Palatoplasty

A Prospective, Double-Blinded, Randomized Comparison of Intravenous Acetaminophen Versus Placebo in Children Undergoing Palatoplasty

This project is being used to assess the utility of intravenous acetaminophen in the pediatric population undergoing palate repairs. This study is a prospective randomized double blinded placebo controlled study. The investigators will have two arms, one group of patients will receive intravenous acetaminophen and one group that will receive a placebo at a total of four doses over 24 hours. The results of this study may affect the intraoperative anesthetic management as well as post-operative surgical management of this specific patient population. The goal is to determine the benefit of adding a non-opioid analgesic and hypothesizing that it may reduce the amount of narcotic consumption in the post anesthesia care unit as well as during the post-operative stay.

Inclusion Criteria:

• ASA physical status I or II
• Presenting for repair of palatoplasty with Drs. Kirschner or Pearson

Exclusion Criteria:

• ASA physical status > II
• Underlying Syndrome
• Significant co-morbid diseases (cardiac, pulmonary, neurological disease)
• Patients having concomitant procedures (tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, etc.)