Correlation between clinical grading of adenoid or tonsil hypertrophy and adenoid or tonsil volume post adenotonsillectomy: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Measuring adenoid or tonsil volume in surgically removed specimens is likely the most accurate method for quantifying adenotonsillar hypertrophy severity which may predict the extent of surgery to curtail post tonsillectomy haemorrhage a potential lethal complication.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> All patients with adenoid or tonsil hypertrophy were graded clinically while the objective grading by volumetric saline displacement in accordance with Archimedes’ principle; between August 1, 2017 to July 31, 2019 at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria. Data analysis was by the SPSS version 21.0 Chicago IL, USA. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The study had 96 participants with a M:F=1.7:1. Age range was 9 months to 51 years, median was 3 yrs, mean was 9.5 yrs±15.5 yrs with 83 (86.5%) who were ≤18 yrs. Main features of this study, no. of patients in snoring was 83 (86.5%), nasal obstruction 71 (74.0%), rhinorrhoea 32 (33.3%), noisy breathing 23 (24.0%), dysphagia- 18 (18.8%), mouth breathing 18 (18.8%). Grading of this study was 78 (81.2%) were Brodsky grade III & IV while 72 (75.0%) had ANR of ≥0.5. Blood loss was range 10 ml to 250 ml, median 35 ml, mean 52.7±46.9 ml while 51 (63.0%) had blood loss of ≤50 ml. Volume of surgical specimen of adenoid; range 0.20-4.50 ml, mean 1.56±0.83 ml while tonsil; (Rt)-range 1.00-12.50 ml, mean 3.18±1.97 ml. There was a positive correlation between adenoid or tonsil grade and volume at 99% CI; (r)=0.409, (p=0.000) and grade (mean) 3.11±0.78, volume (mean) 3.18±1.96.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This study establishes a positive correlation between clinical grading of adenoid or tonsil and volume with a certain level of accuracy which may predict extent of surgery to avoid post tonsillectomy hemorrhage, a life-threatening/lethal complication from excessive, partial or suboptimal surgery commonly.</p>