Antihistamines in the Resolution of Traumatic Edema in Dogs

FOR MANY years, oral surgeons have used antihistamines to decrease postoperative soft tissue swelling. These drugs have been given intramuscularly in large dosage. Clinical studies by Silverman^1,2 claimed "a tremendous reduction in the incidence of swelling. When it did occur, resolution was much more rapid than formerly." Most of the patients in this series (392) received chlorpheniramine maleate, 20 to 30 mg intramuscularly, 30 to 60 minutes before surgery. Postoperatively, patients were given one or two 8 mg repeat action tablets four times daily for 24 to 48 hours. Wohlgemuth and O'Brien³ reported a decrease in postoperative edema following maxillofacial surgery in 40 patients. They used promethazine preoperatively and continued it postoperatively. Antihistamines have been used in this community in the treatment of traumatic soft tissue injuries, especially maxillofacial, as well as after many elective plastic surgical operations. The usual regimen has been chlorpheniramine maleate, 1 mg/kg intramuscularly