Magnesium vs Placebo for Tonsillectomy

Postoperative pain will be measured at 15 minute time intervals in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Pain scores will be evaluated using a standardized validated scale (the Faces Pain Scale Revised (FPS-R)). The Faces Pain Scale is a validated, patient reported, 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable) numeric rating scale. Pain scores will be multiplied by the time spent at each pain score for a calculated "Area Under the Curve" value, ranging from 0 to 900, with lower values indicating more favorable and lower pain scores.

Amount of rescue postoperative pain medication needed in the recovery room will be tabulated.

Postoperative pain at home will be measured using the Parent's Post-Operative Pain Measure (PPPM) questionnaire on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7. The PPPM gives a score to child behavior which suggests they are in pain after surgery with scores ranging from 0 to 15 with lower values suggesting better pain outcome.

The incidence of emergence delirium determined using the pediatric anesthesia emergence delirium (PAED) scale while the patient is in the PACU. The PAED scale ranges from scores of 0 to 20, with lower scores indicating less agitation, more awareness, less aggressiveness, and a more favorable outcome in the post-anesthesia recovery period.

The incidence of postoperative vomiting will be measured while in the recovery room.

The incidence of the presence of respiratory depression will be measured while the patient is in the recovery room.

The time to fulfilling discharge criteria, in minutes, from the PACU will be recorded

Parent satisfaction will be assessed on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7. This will be determined by asking the parents one question about their satisfaction with the overal anesthetic care on a numeric rating scale of 1 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction and better outcome.