Dr Ohlms has discussed the risks and benefits of injecting local anesthetic into the tonsillar fossa to alter the pain response to the surgical injury of tonsillectomy. She points out that with a blockade of the afferent nerves, the postoperative pain response may be altered, resulting in a less morbid recuperation. For many years, local anesthesia has been used for postoperative pain control in conjunction with surgery under general anesthesia.1