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PubMed1984

Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage. A retrospective study of 1150 operations.

The medical records of 1150 tonsillectomized patients were retrospectively reviewed for registration of the frequency of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage in relation to sex and age of the patients, the indications for tonsillectomy, and the operative experience of the surgeon. The number of post-operative bleeds requiring surgery was 32 (2.8%) and occurred most frequently in young men and in patients with a history of previous peritonsillar abscess undergoing cold tonsillectomy. The frequency of haemorrhage in abscess tonsillectomy was not higher than expected. As previous studies have demonstrated that abscess tonsillectomy is associated with a minimal risk of spreading the infection or other serious complications, it is suggested that abscess tonsillectomy should be the preferable treatment of peritonsillar abscess.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

The effect of recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillectomy on growth in childhood.

The aim of this study was to determine if children with recurrent tonsillitis are smaller than expected before tonsillectomy and if they have an altered height or weight gain 1 year post-operatively. All (204) children attending the hospital for tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy had their height and weight measured pre-operatively and 1 year after operation. The results of 2204 children in local schools were used as a control population. Analysis was by comparison of each population with the Tanner charts. This study suggests that our population of children listed for tonsillectomy were not lighter or smaller than expected before operation but that one year after tonsillectomy, there was an increase in their weight gain. The height gain was no different than expected after operation. Overweight seems to be a medium term complication of tonsillectomy. It may be necessary to redefine the indications for tonsillectomy in children who are already obese.

Body Constitution↗

PubMed2005

A prospective study comparing conventional methods against a structured method of gaining patients' informed consent for tonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVE: By providing junior members of medical staff with appropriate guidelines one can achieve an improved standard of informed consent for tonsillectomy, than is provided at present. DESIGN: A prospective study of 138 consecutive patients. SETTING: District General Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 138 patients undergoing routine tonsillectomy split into two groups. Group A (n=87), the conventional group, gave consent in our unit's standard manner to various grades of doctors by using a hospital general surgical consent form. Most gave their consent as outpatients, while some consented on admission. Group B (n=51), the structured consent group, gave their consent in pre-admission clinic, to an SHO using a standardized tonsillectomy consent form and a structured interview technique. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A preoperative questionnaire regarding the knowledge of tonsillectomy. RESULTS: Improvement of the awareness of the risks involved with tonsillectomy was achieved by the structured consent Group B; 82% of Group A were aware of postoperative pain compared with 94% of group B (P=0.04); 63% of group A were aware of infection compared with 82% of group B (P=0.02); 100% of group B had read the consent form before signing compared with 80% of group A (P<0.01). There was no statistical difference in the awareness of postoperative haemorrhage (91 versus 98%, P=0.15). CONCLUSION: By providing junior medical staff with guidelines, senior staff retain responsibility for consent while improving the standard of informed consent for tonsillectomy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Cohort study of advanced IgA nephropathy: efficacy and limitations of corticosteroids with tonsillectomy.

BACKGROUND: Elevated serum creatinine is associated with poor outcome in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). The efficacy and limitations of corticosteroids in advanced IgAN (Cr >or=1.5 mg/dl), however, remains controversial. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 70 patients with advanced IgAN (Cr >or=1.5 mg/dl) classified into three groups according to their treatment regimens, that is, steroid pulse with tonsillectomy, conventional steroid, and supportive therapy. We evaluated the three groups to elucidate predictors for the endpoints ESRF and doubled serum creatinine from baseline. RESULTS: Steroid pulse with tonsillectomy, conventional steroid and supportive therapy were performed in 30, 25 and 15 patients, respectively. During the mean follow-up period of 70.3 (12-137) months, 41.4% of patients reached ESRF (13.3 vs. 56.0 vs. 73.3%, p < 0.001) and 45.7% doubled serum creatinine from baseline (16.7 vs. 64.0 vs. 73.3%, p < 0.001). The incidence of ESRF in the patients treated by steroid pulse with tonsillectomy was significantly lower than the incidences in the patients treated by conventional steroid and supportive therapy at a baseline creatinine level of 1.5-2 mg/dl, but no statistical difference was observed at a level of >2 mg/dl. The Kaplan-Meier estimated probability of renal survival without ESRF was 89.2, 74.1 and 72.2% at 5 years and 82.8, 51.0 and 45.1% at 8 years, respectively (p = 0.017). The predictors for ESRF, identified in a Cox proportional hazards model, were baseline serum creatinine (p < 0.001) and interstitial infiltrate (p = 0.003). Steroid pulse with tonsillectomy also had a protective effect on the risk of reaching ESRF (p = 0.013). By target cross-stratification, the patients with baseline creatinine of 1.5-2 mg/dl who underwent steroid pulse with tonsillectomy showed a better renal survival rate than the others (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Steroid pulse therapy combined with tonsillectomy may be more effective than conventional steroid therapy in patients with a baseline creatinine level of <or=2 mg/dl.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed1991

Role of quinsy tonsillectomy in the management of peritonsillar abscess.

Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is the most frequent complication of acute tonsillitis requiring surgical intervention. Debate continues concerning optimal therapy in terms of patient morbidity and cost-effectiveness. A retrospective study was performed on 45 tonsillectomies for PTA in military personnel from December 1986 through December 1988. Twenty-three quinsy (abscess) tonsillectomies and 22 interval tonsillectomies were identified. Parameters studied were age, sex, abscess location, interval prior to operation, blood loss, operative time, operative experience, and combined hospital and convalescent days for the two groups. Significant differences were noted between the quinsy and interval tonsillectomy groups concerning the average number of days hospitalized (3.0 versus 4.5) and their respective convalescent periods (10.3 versus 17.3). We conclude that quinsy tonsillectomy is the best management for PTA in a young work force when the optimal treatment choice is between interval or acute tonsillectomy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Unusual complication of tonsillectomy: taste disturbance and the lingual branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve.

Taste disturbance is an unusual complication of tonsillectomy of which there are very few reports in the literature. The possible causes of this rare complication are: (1) direct or indirect damage to the glossopharyngeal nerve or its lingual branch (LBGN), (2) lack of dietary zinc, and (3) habitual drug intake. We report a 41-year-old man, who complained of taste disturbance following tonsillectomy that was performed for chronic tonsillitis and unilateral (left) tonsillar hypertrophy. During surgery, hypertrophic tonsils were found to be sited deeply into the tonsillar bed, especially at the lower pole of the left tonsil. Pathologic examination following tonsillectomy revealed a keratinous cyst and chronic infection at the left tonsil, and lymphoid hyperplasia and chronic infection at the right tonsil. Although his complaint had been getting better, qualitative examination of his taste function revealed bilateral impairment of the sense of sweet taste on the base of his tongue two months after the surgery, and a taste disturbance of sweet taste on the left side persisted the 10th month after the surgery. His serum zinc value was normal, and he did not take any drug that could affect his sense of taste. Depending on the literature data, possible indirect damage to the LBGN was suspected as the cause of the taste disturbance. This symptom may be reversible within two years after tonsillectomy, but it can also be irreversible. Therefore, tonsillectomy should be performed with minimal trauma to the tonsillar bed, especially when there is an additional pathology extending into the lower pole, and such a patient should be informed of the risk of post-operative taste disturbance after tonsillectomy as being one of the rare complications of this surgery.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Previous tonsillectomy as prognostic indicator for success of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

Factors that determine a successful outcome following uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are not well defined. This study was undertaken to determine if prior tonsillectomy is predictive of a lower response rate to UPPP. A retrospective review of a cohort undergoing UPPP alone or in combination with nasal septoplasty for OSA was undertaken. Preoperative and postoperative polysomnograms were obtained to evaluate the severity of the OSA. The sample was a consecutive series of 79 patients with OSA. Clinical evaluation was performed by both an otolaryngologist and a pulmonologist. Surgical treatment in this group of 79 patients included 52 UPPP and 27 UPPP in patients with prior tonsillectomy. Concurrent septoplasty was undertaken in 17 patients. Criteria for outcome were based on comparison of preoperative and postoperative polysomnograms (i.e., apnea index, respiratory disturbance index change, and lowest saturation). A response to therapy was defined as a reduction in apnea index greater than 50%. A success was defined as apnea index less than 5, reduction of respiratory disturbance index greater than 50%, and nadir saturation greater than 82%. In 79 patients with OSA, 78% responded and 37% reflected therapeutic successes. Patients with history of prior tonsillectomy were less likely to have therapeutic improvement following UPPP. In 52 patients without previous tonsillectomy, 88% responded and 52% had a successful outcome. Of those with previous tonsillectomy, 59% responded and 7% had a successful outcome. The status of previous tonsillectomy is an important prognostic indicator in the success of UPPP for the treatment of OSA. We speculate that the presence of palatine tonsils allows the removal of an extra measure of oropharyngeal tissue, thereby improving the likelihood of success for UPPP.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Impact of clinical practice guidelines on clinicians' behaviour: tonsillectomy in children.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the extent to which developing and implementing clinical practice guidelines for listing children for tonsillectomy (with or without adenoidectomy) influenced the behaviour of participating ENT surgeons. METHOD: A before and after study in which the intervention (the development and dissemination of local practice guidelines) was introduced sequentially into different hospitals and surgical practice. The study was conducted in four ear, nose, and throat surgical services in the North of England, with 16 consultant ENT surgeons and their junior staff on 1190 children aged 0 to 14 years who were judged, prior to consultation with an ENT surgeon, to have been referred for throat-related problems for which tonsillectomy was one possible treatment option were included in the study. Decision reached by surgeons and proportion of decisions that complied with new guidelines. RESULTS: Of the clinical decisions to list children for tonsillectomy taken before introduction of locally agreed guidelines, 73% (486/660) conformed to the criteria in the subsequent guidelines, 15% (97/660) did not, and in 12% (77/660), it was impossible to judge. After the intervention, the corresponding figures were 73% (386/530), 14% (73/53), and 13% (71/530), respectively. When decisions were taken to break the guidelines, this was more often to list for tonsillectomy when it was not indicated--83% (141/170)--than to withhold tonsillectomy when it was indicated--17% (29/170). The aspects of guidelines that were breached in decisions to carry out tonsillectomy were: the age of the child was younger than the guidelines recommended--54% (75/141); there had been fever attacks of tonsillitis than the guidelines recommended--22% (32/141); and there were "significant" symptoms not included in the guidelines--20% (29/141). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of strong evidence to the contrary, local guidelines were formulated at a level that the majority of surgeons already attained. Guideline development and implementation, therefore, had very little impact on clinical practice. The process of local formulation of guidelines was not sufficient to achieve change toward evidence-based practice; clinical preference proved to be quite intractable. There is a need to enhance the ability of clinicians in the assessment and interpretation of research evidence. Previous work has emphasized the need to explore factors that influence clinical behaviour toward evidence-based practice. Our study suggests the need for more research into why clinicians continue to follow clinical preference even when invited to base agreed local clinical policies on evidence.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Peritonsillar abscess: the rationale for interval tonsillectomy.

Although peritonsillar abscess (quinsy) and peritonsillitis are common ENT emergencies, management strategies in the United Kingdom still vary among otolaryngologists. In order to obtain data on the success of the various strategies, we conducted two surveys--one concerned itself with patient outcomes, while the other sought information on physician preferences. The survey of 571 practicing ENT surgeons revealed that 83% advise interval tonsillectomy only for patients who have a history of tonsillitis; they prefer to take a wait-and-see approach for a single attack of quinsy. Conversely, 15% advise a routine interval tonsillectomy following even a single isolated attack of quinsy/peritonsillitis. Only 6.8% still perform a quinsy tonsillectomy in selected cases. Survey responses from 192 adults and 15 children who had been hospitalized for the treatment of quinsy/peritonsillitis revealed that the vast majority of patients who did not undergo an interval tonsillectomy were still asymptomatic 2 to 8 years later. These results indicate that a wait-and-see policy is indeed suitable for most patients who present with an isolated attack of quinsy/peritonsillitis without a history of tonsillitis. We recommend that tonsillectomy be performed as a definitive treatment for quinsy/peritonsillitis in patients who have a history of tonsillitis. Such a history is a reliable indicator of recurrent quinsy or tonsillitis following an attack of quinsy/peritonsillitis in both children and adults. Quinsy tonsillectomy should be reserved for those few patients who do not respond to conservative measures.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Is paediatric day case tonsillectomy desirable? The parents' perspective.

Tonsillectomy is the most commonly performed otolaryngological procedure in most units. There is considerable financial pressure to perform paediatric tonsillectomy as a day case. Responding to concern that day case tonsillectomy might not be welcomed by parents or felt to be in the best interests of the patients, we carried out an audit of paediatric tonsillectomy, by means of a questionnaire for parents and nursing staff to complete while 32 consecutive patients underwent tonsillectomy as inpatients. Although eight parents (25%) felt that day surgery should be an option, none of those surveyed felt that on this occasion their child was well enough to be discharged home six hours postoperatively. Furthermore, no child in the audit fulfilled all the essential discharge criteria at six hours. In this area, at least, it appears parents do not uniformly welcome paediatric day case tonsillectomy.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗

PubMed2000

Post-tonsillectomy patient care in the community.

Tonsillectomy is a frequently performed surgical procedure. Problems arising in the early postoperative period will have an important impact on community and hospital resources. We determined the type of problems that occur and the way these problems are managed. We monitored 203 patients undergoing routine tonsillectomy by a postoperative telephone survey and contacted their general practitioners, 164 in all. We found 46% of the patients experienced problems post-discharge which led to early contact with a doctor. Infection was identified in 26% and secondary haemorrhage in 11%. Common symptoms associated with the prescribing of antibiotics were sore throat (74%) and secondary haemorrhage (41%). Each GP saw, on average, 2.4 post-tonsillectomy patients per annum. The diagnosis of post-tonsillectomy infection is difficult. This was reflected in the wide variation of clinical features used to diagnose post-tonsillectomy infection by doctors. The vast majority (95%) of GPs expressed a desire for a framework for treating post-tonsillectomy complications.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Evaluation of post-tonsillectomy bleeding in the adult population.

A retrospective review of a consecutive series of 685 adult patients undergoing tonsillectomy was conducted. Determinations were made of the post-tonsillectomy bleeding rate, the need for intervention to control bleeding, and the blood transfusion rate. Statistical analysis was used to determine whether bleeding rates differed according to three criteria: gender, indication for tonsillectomy, and age. Post-tonsillectomy bleeding occurred in 35 patients (5.1%); five of these patients experienced bleeding during the first 24 hours postoperatively, and the remaining 30 experienced delayed bleeding. When it occurred, the mean time lapse between tonsillectomy and bleeding was 6.9 days (+/- 4.1). Twenty of the 35 patients (57.1%) required a procedure to control their bleeding, but no patient required a transfusion. There was no statistically significant difference in bleeding rates based on gender, the indication for surgery (chronic tonsillitis, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, or to rule out neoplasia), and age. These results indicate that (1) post-tonsillectomy bleeding occurs in approximately 1 of 20 adults independent of individual patient characteristics, (2) more than half of patients who bleed are likely to require a procedure to control their hemorrhage, and (3) the need for transfusion is distinctly unlikely.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

[Application of the fusafungine in perioperative period in patients after tonsillectomy].

The only treatment method in chronic palatine tonsillitis is the removal of tonsils (tonsillectomy). The study aimed at a clinical evaluation of postoperative fusafungine use in patients who underwent tonsillectomy. The study included 200 patients who underwent tonsillectomy for chronic palatine pyotonsillitis in the Otolaryngology Clinic of the Military Institute for the Health Services in Warsaw between 2000 and 2002. The patients were divided into two groups, each group including 100 patients: group I--patients who underwent tonsillectomy, including 67 females and 33 males, aged 16 to 52 (mean age 34.8), in whom fusafungine was used; group II--patients who underwent tonsillectomy, including 58 females and 42 males, aged 17 to 56 (mean age 36.1), who did not receive fusafungine. The subjects were observed during the first 14 days following the operation. The treatment was administered from the first day after the operation, by spraying 4 doses into the throat, 4 times a day, at 8.00 hrs, 12.00 hrs, 16.00 hrs and 20.00 hrs. The two groups were then compared in terms of: symptoms of sore throat, body temperature, swallowing difficulties, the course of healing, appearance of the pharyngeal mucosa, quality of life and general affection. Post-tonsillectomy fusafungine use was found to improve the patients' quality of life, appeases the sore throat and swallowing difficulties, decreases the need for general antibiotic therapy; the above results are statistically significant. Fusafungine was not found to influence body temperature, the appearance of the pharyngeal mucosa or the healing process.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

[New method of biopsy of palatine tonsils and its role in the indication for tonsillectomy (preliminary report)].

In our work we presented a new method of chronic tonsillitis diagnosis and evaluated its usefulness in qualification to tonsillectomy. Oligobiopsies were obtained from right and left palatine tonsils of 36 patients who were qualified to tonsillectomy on the basis of past medical history, otolaryngological examination and laboratory tests findings. Following gauge of biopsy instruments were used: 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm. The material obtained at biopsies and tonsillectomies was histopathologically evaluated. Histopathological findings of specimens obtained at oligobiopsies and post tonsillectomies were compared. The presence of interstitial fibrosis, neutrophils infiltrates, hyperplastic changes of lymphoid follicles of palatine tonsils were evaluated in oligobiopsy specimens in comparison to the results of postoperative specimen findings. Full concordance of histopathological findings obtained at oligobiopsy and post tonsillectomy was noted with the use of biopsy instruments of 3 mm and 4 mm gauge. Specimens obtained at oligobiopsies had a great diagnostic value. It was proved that the biopsy performed according to our method has a great diagnostic value and helps surgeon to qualify patient to tonsillectomy.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Current thinking on tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, though less frequently performed now than in the 1930s, remain among the most common surgical procedures in the United States. The need for and benefits of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy have been a source of controversy for several decades. Nonetheless, there are situations in which these procedures definitely are beneficial. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are two distinct procedures with separate indications, and they are performed concurrently only when the specific indications for each coexist. Tonsillectomy is indicated by recurrent tonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess, chronic tonsillitis, tonsillar neoplasm, or tonsillar hypertrophy that is obstructive to the upper aerodigestive tract (respiratory distress, dysphagia, or interference with performance of an adenoidectomy). Adenoidectomy is indicated for nasal airway obstruction due to adenoidal enlargement from hypertrophic or inflammatory processes. Although correlation exists among obstructive adenoids, mouth breathing, and dentofacial anomalies, present evidence is not sufficient to justify adenoidectomy solely on the basis of craniofacial or dentofacial abnormalities. Today, elimination of an occult source of infection (once called focal infection) in patients with disorders such as rheumatic fever or serous otitis media is not a valid indication for either operation. Contraindications to tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy include bleeding disorders, familial anesthetic intolerance, velopharyngeal insufficiency, and concurrent disease that may enhance operative risks. Like all surgical procedures, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy entail morbidity and risk of mortality. The most frequent complication of these operations is hemorrhage. Risk of mortality is approximately 0.006%. Mortality and morbidity can be minimized by appropriate preoperative evaluation, complete control of the airway with endotracheal anesthesia, and meticulous surgical technique.

Adenoidectomy↗

PubMed1996

Postoperative bleeding in tonsillectomy patients.

A three-year retrospective study was performed on 494 patients to compare the effects of two techniques of tonsillectomy, with respect to rates of postoperative bleeding. One surgeon performed primarily mechanical dissections, while the other primarily performed electrocautery dissections. Intraoperative blood loss was assessed and correlated to the age and gender of the patient and to the size of the tonsil. Postoperative bleeding was seen in 2.8% of patients who underwent electrocautery tonsillectomy and in 7.6% of patients who underwent mechanical tonsillectomies. Patients undergoing electrocautery dissection lost an average of 37 ml of blood intraoperatively, whereas those undergoing mechanical dissection lost 105 ml. Mechanical tonsillectomies exhibited higher intraoperative blood loss than electrocautery tonsillectomies. A higher rate of postoperative bleeding was seen in mechanical tonsillectomies, but this difference was lost when peritonsillar abscesses were removed from the study.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

[Peritonsillar abscess. Emergency tonsillectomy?].

The treatment of peritonsillar abcess is still controversial: quincy tonsillectomy, also called tonsillectomy "à chaud" (TC) or interval tonsillectomy, also known as tonsillectomy "à froid" (TF), several weeks after incision and drainage. Of 105 patients presenting with peritonsilar abscess, 53 had tonsillectomy: 27 TC and 26 TF. For each group the following variables were analyzed: age, location of abscess, bacteriology, duration of surgery, amount of per-operative bleeding, post-operative hemorrhage and complications, and length of hospital stay. The location of the abscess was posterior in 33%, and therefore difficult to drain without tonsillectomy. Significant differences in favor of TC were found for: 1) the amount of per-operative bleeding; 2) the occurrence of post-operative hemorrhage; and 3) the duration of hospital stay. We conclude that TC is a safe procedure without increased risks, with less complications, and with a reduced cost. When surgery is indicated in the treatment of peritonsillar abcess, we advocate TC. From our results and the litterature a decision tree for the management of peritonsillar abcess is presented.

Abscess↗

PubMed1996

Day case tonsillectomy in adults: how many are suitable?

Day case surgery is increasing to improve health care cost efficiency. The economic benefits of day surgery depend on how many patients are suitable. Adult tonsillectomy is a common operation. This study aims to define what proportion of adults undergoing tonsillectomy are suitable for day case surgery. One hundred consecutive adults undergoing elective in-patient tonsillectomy were studied prospectively. Patients were questioned, examined and investigated for any general medical or social contra-indications to day surgery as specified by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. They were also questioned about specific contra-indications to day case tonsillectomy, including NSAID contra-indications and tonsillectomy indicated for biopsy, quinsy or with another procedure. Seventy-six per cent patients satisfied the requirements. The most common reasons for failure were social. A high proportion of adults are suitable for day case tonsillectomy and therefore significant economic benefits are possible. However, prior to such surgery further work on operation suitability is required.

Adult↗