Day-case tonsillectomy in children: parental attitudes and consultation rates

Abstract

Objective: In Europe, the day-case tonsillectomy rate in children is slowly increasing, but whether parents really want this rapid discharge of their child is questionable. The fear is that aftercare might fall solely on community care. The aim of this prospective study was to introduce pediatric day-case tonsillectomy to our hospital and to determine parents’ attitudes to this procedure. The other interest centered on consultation rates within the 2-week recovery period. Methods: One hundred children aged 3–16 years had day-case tonsillectomy (38) or adenotonsillectomy (62). Peri-operative and post-operative complications were recorded. Parents were phoned the next day and 1–4 months after the operation. Parents’ opinions of day-case surgery and consultations with healthcare professionals during the 2-week recovery period were recorded. Results: Ninety children went home the day of the operation. Vomiting was the most frequent complication. No primary hemorrhages occurred. Called the next day, 100% of parents felt that their children were better served spending their first night at home as compared with staying in hospital. Called 1–4 months later, 94.5% of parents still thought this way. In the 2-week recovery period following the tonsillectomy, 13% of patients visited a physician and 17% called for information. These numbers include patients with secondary hemorrhage. If these are excluded, 5% of patients visited a physician and 13% called for advice. Children were taken back to hospital only due to secondary hemorrhage. Conclusions: Most parents considered day-case tonsillectomy to be suitable for their family. Consultation rates were low. Careful patient selection and adequate pre-operative information are prerequisites for day-case tonsillectomy.