Indications For Tonsillectomy Research Articles

Obtaining a Second Opinion in Germany: an Analysis of the Billing Data of the Health Insurer AOK Nordost

The aim of this billing data analysis was to examine the implementation of the second opinion directive in Germany and to investigate how often informing patients about their right to a second opinion (SO) and obtaining a SO are documented. To examine the frequency of "informing about SO" and "obtaining an SO", insured patients who received an indication for tonsillectomy, tonsillotomy or hysterectomy in 2019 or 2020 were included, as well as insured patients who received an indication for shoulder arthroscopy in Q2-Q3 2020. Data were analyzed descriptively. During the study period, 5307 surgeries were reported for the above-mentioned indications. "Informing about SO" was documented for 121 patients with surgery and "obtaining an SO" was documented for 12 patients with surgery. The proportion of documented "informing about SO" compared to the number of surgeries was highest for tonsillectomy/tonsillotomy<18 years (4%) and lowest for shoulder arthroscopy (0.6%). In total, no patient was documented for both "informing about SO" and "obtaining an SO". The present billing data analysis shows that information about the right to an SO according to the directive as well as the obtaining of such an SO has not yet been implemented in standard care as required by law.

Should paediatric tonsillar asymmetry be an indication for tonsillectomy? A single centre experience.

Paediatric tonsillar lymphoma (TL) is a rare diagnosis. Historically, the presence of clinical features such as tonsillar asymmetry, grossly abnormal tonsil appearance and cervical lymphadenopathy raise concern for this diagnosis. Tonsillar asymmetry is considered to be the most concerning clinical feature; however, asymmetry is often apparent due to differences in depth or shape of tonsillar fossa and tonsillar pillars, rather than a true difference in volume. There is debate whether a tonsillectomy is required in all cases of tonsil asymmetry to exclude lymphoma, and what clinical features should raise concern. The aim of this study was to establish whether the presence of clinical asymmetry can be deemed a reliable marker for genuine tonsil size discrepancies. We also sought to evaluate the clinical and examination characteristics that are concerning for lymphoma. Retrospective review of clinical records for paediatric tonsil specimens sent for histological evaluation between 1 January 2012 and 1 January 2023 driven by a clinical suspicion of lymphoma at Starship Children's Hospital, New Zealand. Patient demographics and clinical data were recorded. A comparison was made between tonsil size asymmetry on clinical examination (Brodsky criteria) and tonsil volume difference based on dimensions given in pathology reports. One hundred and forty-three patients had tonsillectomies between 2012 and 2022 at Starship Children's Hospital due to concern for lymphoma. Of these, three were positive for lymphoma. Presence of pain and abnormal tonsil appearance were predictors for lymphoma (p<0.02). Interrater reliability agreement between clinical size difference and tonsil volume was poor, Kappa= -0.13 p<0.05. Clinical size difference is a poor predictor for true tonsil volume difference. We advise that assessment of tonsil size should be performed in conjunction with the examination of gross visual abnormalities and lymphadenopathy to guide clinical decision making.

Care of the Pediatric Patient for Ambulatory Tonsillectomy With or Without Adenoidectomy: The Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia Position Statement.

The landscape of ambulatory surgery is changing, and tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy is one of the most common pediatric surgical procedures performed nationally. The number of children undergoing tonsillectomy on an ambulatory basis continues to increase. The 2 most common indications for tonsillectomy are recurrent throat infections and obstructive sleep-disordered breathing. The most frequent early complications after tonsillectomy are hemorrhage and ventilatory compromise. In areas lacking a dedicated children's hospital, these cases are managed by a nonpediatric specialized anesthesiologist and general otolaryngology surgeon. In response to requests from our members without pediatric fellowship training and/or who care for pediatric patients infrequently, the Pediatric Committee of the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA) developed a position statement with recommendations for the safe perioperative care of pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy with and without adenoidectomy in freestanding ambulatory surgical facilities. This statement identifies children that are more likely to experience complications and to require additional dedicated provider time that is not conducive to the rapid pace and staffing ratios of many freestanding ambulatory centers with mixed adult and pediatric practices. The aim is to provide health care professionals with practical criteria and suggestions based on the best available evidence. When high-quality evidence is unavailable, we relied on group consensus from pediatric ambulatory specialists in the SAMBA Pediatric Committee. Consensus recommendations were presented to the Pediatric Committee of SAMBA.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF VARIOUS TECHNIQUES TONSILLECTOMY

Objective: The purpose of the study was to compare intraoperative factors and postoperative outcomes between the image-guided acute dissection technique and the endoscopic image-guided acute dissection technique. Material and methods: The study was conducted in 153 patients (81 men and 72 women, average age 26.4 years) who underwent tonsillectomy (2018-2023). Patients were randomly assigned 2 group 52% percent of patients(group1) underwent tonsillectomy with acute dissection technique under visual control, and 48% of patients (group 2) underwent tonsillectomy with acute dissection technique under endoscopic visualization using a 4.0 mm 0° endoscope (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany). Indications for tonsillectomy were hypertrophy of the tonsils in 82 patients, recurrent tonsillitis in 23 patients and focal infection of the tonsils in 48 patients. Tonsillectomy was performed under general anesthesia using an oral speculum specifically designed for tonsillectomy. All patients were assessed and compared for postoperative pain, bleeding, recurrence, or tonsil tissue growth in the immediate and late postoperative period. The removed adenoid is sent for histology. Clinical diagnosis: Chronic decompensated tonsillitis. Pathohistological diagnosis: Within the limits of the examined material, the histological picture corresponds to chronic tonsillitis, hypertrophy of nasopharyngeal adenoid tissue. Results: There were no serious intra- or postoperative complications. Bleeding points were identified in 47 patients (31 patients group1 and 16 patients group 2). The source of bleeding was observed in the central deep part of the adenoids - in 18 patients, in the lateral parts of the adenoids - in 16 patients, adenoids on both sides in 13. Remnants of adenoid tissue were found in 23 patients, (17 patients group 1 and 6 patients group 2). Remnants of adenoid tissue were removed using bipolar diathermy under image guidance. The operation time for endoscopic tonsillectomy is shorter than for traditional procedures. Conclusions: The visibility provided Tonsillectomy by endoscopic techniques improves the ease and precision of surgery. Clinical significance determines the need for further testing of already proposed means and methods.

The Indications of Tonsillectomy Among Pediatric Patients: Our Nine-Year Retrospective Review.

Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure that involves removing the tonsils, often performed alongside adenoidectomy. Dating back to ancient times, it improves quality of life and can belife-savingwhen done for appropriate reasons. Common indications in children include recurrent tonsillitis and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).Evidence suggests it reduces how often and how severe sore throats are in highly affected children. Symptoms such as lymphadenopathy, tonsillar pus, fever, or signs of streptococcal infection shouldbe present for diagnosis of tonsillitis. Polysomnography (PSG) is essential to diagnoseobstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and confirm airway obstruction. Our aim in this study is to determine the reasons for tonsillectomy in Taif, Saudi Arabia, since it is not well established before in this city. A nine-year retrospective analysis of case records of patients aged 0-18 years who have had tonsillectomy performed in a tertiary hospital. Data was analyzed using SPSS (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The research study involved analyzing data from361 participants. Among the participants, 16.9%(n = 61)underwent tonsillectomy alone, while the majority (83.1%; n = 300)underwent tonsillectomy in combination with other procedures. The most common combined procedure was adenotonsillectomy (71.7%; n = 259). Additionally, adenotonsillectomy and insertion of grommets in other combinations was observed andwas equal to 11.4% (n = 41) of the totalpercentage of oursample.The primary indications for tonsillectomy alone were chronic tonsillitis (42.6%; n = 26) and recurrent tonsillitis (49.2%; n = 30). Conclusion:This research study provides valuable information on the types of procedures performed and the indications for surgery in pediatric patients. The results highlight the prevalence of chronic and recurrent tonsillitis andadenotonsillitisas primary indications for tonsillectomy, either alone or in combination with other procedures. These findings contribute to our understanding of the clinical decision-making process and can aid healthcare professionals in providing optimal care for pediatric patients with tonsillar andadenotonsillarpathologies.

Secondary Postoperative Hemorrhage in the Pediatric Tonsillectomy Patient- is there a correlation between hemorrhage and tonsilloliths?

INTRODUCTION Tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy is one of the most common ambulatory procedures performed in children under 15. One rare yet serious complication of tonsillectomy is postoperative hemorrhage. Chronic tonsillitis, which is an indication for tonsillectomy, has been shown to have an increased risk for postoperative hemorrhage. Tonsilloliths or tonsil stones have been associated with cryptic tonsillitis. This 2020-2021 study examined whether tonsilloliths were a risk factor for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage in a convenience sample of 187 pediatric patients. METHODS This was a cross-institutional 12-month retrospective cohort study investigating pediatric patients who had undergone tonsillectomy. Exclusion criteria included patients who had received prior airway surgeries (e.g., supraglottoplasty), patients with significant comorbidities such as chromosomal abnormalities or congenital disorders, and patients with pre-existing bleeding disorders. Demographic, clinical, and operative data was extracted from each chart. Postoperative adverse events and bleeding were also recorded. These factors were then compared between the tonsillolith and no tonsillolith patient groups. RESULTS A total of 187 pediatric patients met the inclusion criteria. Seventy-three (39%) of the patients had tonsilloliths and 114 (61%) did not have tonsilloliths at the time of surgery. The tonsillolith subgroup had a higher median age (10 vs 3, P &lt; 0.001) when compared to the no tonsillolith subgroup. The most common indication for tonsillectomy was obstructive sleep apnea/sleep disordered breathing (N= 148, 79.1%). There was no statistical difference found between presence of tonsillolith and indication for surgery (P = 0.06). Only five (2.7%) of sample patients experienced postoperative bleeding and there was no association found between postoperative bleeding and presence of tonsilloliths (P = 0.38). CONCLUSION In the current study there was no association found between the presence of tonsilloliths (indicating low grade chronic inflammation) and hemorrhage after tonsillectomy. Continued larger sample evaluations of possible risk factors for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage patterns are encouraged.

A prospective study on indications for tonsillectomy in childhood in Kirkuk

Abstract Background: Childhood tonsillectomy is a common surgery with a risk of life-threatening perioperative complications. Although the appropriate decision of its indications necessitates considerable practical experience, physicians in different medical specialties tend to base their decisions about surgery on various clinical expertise and perspectives. Objectives: This study was conducted to draw attention to the prevalence and actual indications for tonsil surgeries in children. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 600 children with tonsillitis of both genders, ages ranging from 5 to 15 years old, during the period from October 2020 to August 2022 in Kirkuk, Iraq. Initially, they were divided into two categories: the first included 525 patients (88%) without the need for surgery, while the other category included 75 patients (12%) who underwent tonsil surgery. Patients with tonsillitis undergoing tonsil surgery, 43 (57%) of them had undergone adenotonsillectomy, compared to 32 (43%) children who underwent tonsillectomy. Patients with recurrent tonsillitis amounted to 20 (62%), while patients with tonsillar hypertrophy reached 12 (38%) among those undergoing tonsillectomy. Results: Final obtained data showed that recurrent tonsillitis was significantly more in the age group from 11 to 15 than in the group from 5 to 10 years old. On the contrary, the tonsillar hypertrophy was significantly more in the 5–10 age group than in the other group. Conclusion: This study concluded that a high proportion of children with tonsillitis were cured without surgery, compared to a few frequencies that underwent tonsillectomy due to actual indications. Thus, surgery is not performed for all children with tonsillitis except when really needed to avoid consequences during and after surgery in pediatric patients.

Unilateral Tonsillar Enlargement as Initial Presentation of Bilateral Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma.

Unilateral tonsillar enlargement is a common indication for tonsillectomy, but there are varying rates of malignancy among tonsils removed for asymmetry and a lack of clear guidelines for management within the literature. Lymphoma of the palatine tonsils is among the concerns leading to tonsillectomy, but chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) of the tonsil is rare. We report a case of primary CLL/SLL of the palatine tonsil in a 51-year-old gentleman who presented with tonsillar asymmetry and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but lacked signs and symptoms suspicious for malignancy, including lymphadenopathy and "B-symptoms." To our knowledge, only 7 cases of CLL/SLL of the palatine tonsil have been reported in the English literature, with the tonsil being the primary site of involvement in only 4 of those cases. Our unique case highlights the importance of thorough physical exam, family history, and tissue biopsy in patients presenting to the otolaryngologist with OSA and asymmetric tonsils.

Tonsillitis and Sinusitis: A Narrative Review of Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Management.

The review aims for a comprehensive examination of tonsillitis and sinusitis, covering their pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management, with a focus on recent breakthroughs and therapeutic practices. Tonsillitis, marked by inflammation of the tonsils, can result from viral or bacterial infections, particularlyStreptococcus pyogenes, with attention to antibiotic resistance trends. This review discusses clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria, and the importance of distinguishing viral from bacterial causes. Therapeutic interventions like antibiotics and tonsillectomy indications are evaluated within evolving guidelines. Regarding sinusitis, it explores its origins, contributing factors, and classification based on duration and pathophysiology. Viral infections, allergens, and structural anomalies' roles in pathogenesis are highlighted. Diagnostic modalities like imaging and endoscopic exams are assessed for their efficacy in guiding management decisions. The importance of precise diagnosis through clinical examination, microbiological testing, and imaging is emphasized for informed treatment choices. This review also delves into minimally invasive surgical procedures, particularly endoscopic sinus surgery and tonsillectomy, showcasing progress in these areas. In summary, it provides insights into tonsillitis and sinusitis, offering perspectives on their aetiology, diagnosis, and treatment while integrating current research and clinical standards to enhance patient care and healthcare resource utilization.

Tonsillectomy in adults—to do or not to do

Recurrent acute tonsillitis describes the repeated occurrence of acute bacterial infections of palatine tonsils with symptom-free intervals. Acute tonsillitis accounts for around a third of respiratory tract infections in primary care among people of all ages, 1 Petersen I Johnson AM Islam A Duckworth G Livermore DM Hayward AC Protective effect of antibiotics against serious complications of common respiratory tract infections: retrospective cohort study with the UK General Practice Research Database. BMJ. 2007; 335: 982 Crossref PubMed Scopus (210) Google Scholar with an estimated 600 million symptomatic cases of group A streptococcus tonsillitis worldwide annually. 2 Carapetis JR Steer AC Mulholland EK Weber M The global burden of group A streptococcal diseases. Lancet Infect Dis. 2005; 5: 685-694 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1995) Google Scholar Recurrent episodes occur in 12% of patients with tonsillitis—ie, around 12 000 per 100 000 people. 3 Kvestad E Kværner KJ Røysamb E Tambs K Harris JR Magnus P Heritability of recurrent tonsillitis. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005; 131: 383-387 Crossref PubMed Scopus (26) Google Scholar Beyond the relation to group A streptococcus infections, little is known about risk factors for the development of recurrent acute tonsillitis. 4 Roberts AL Connolly KL Kirse DJ et al. Detection of group A Streptococcus in tonsils from pediatric patients reveals high rate of asymptomatic streptococcal carriage. BMC Pediatr. 2012; 12: 3 Crossref PubMed Scopus (97) Google Scholar Recurrent acute tonsillitis could be a genetic immunosusceptibility disease because patients younger than 12 years show some subclinical antibody deficiency and aberrant T-cell function 5 Dan JM Havenar-Daughton C Kendric K et al. Recurrent group A Streptococcus tonsillitis is an immunosusceptibility disease involving antibody deficiency and aberrant TFH cells. Sci Transl Med. 2019; 11eaau3776 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar and many undergo tonsillectomy. More than 30 000 tonsillectomies are performed annually in the UK. 6 Keltie K Donne A Daniel M et al. Paediatric tonsillectomy in England: a cohort study of clinical practice and outcomes using Hospital Episode Statistics data (2008–2019). Clin Otolaryngol. 2021; 46: 552-561 Crossref PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar Tonsillectomy can produce severe postoperative pain, complicated by postoperative bleeding which can result in death in rare cases. Clearly, we need evidence-based policies to guide health-care professionals for the indication of tonsillectomy. 7 Mandavia R Schilder AGM Dimitriadis PA Mossialos E Addressing the challenges in tonsillectomy research to inform health care policy: a review. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017; 143: 943-947 Crossref PubMed Scopus (10) Google Scholar Unfortunately, not much has changed in the past 40 years. National guidelines are still based on the Paradise criteria from 1984, 8 Paradise JL Bluestone CD Bachman RZ et al. Efficacy of tonsillectomy for recurrent throat infection in severely affected children—results of parallel randomized and nonrandomized clinical trials. N Engl J Med. 1984; 310: 674-683 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar stating that a tonsillectomy is indicated when around seven or more treated tonsillitis episodes occur in 1 year. The Paradise criteria were based on paediatrics clinical trials and later extrapolated for adult guidelines without any justifying research in the adult population. Thus, the 2014 Cochrane Review concluded that the effectiveness of tonsillectomy is low. 9 Burton MJ Glasziou PP Chong LY Venekamp RP Tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy versus non-surgical treatment for chronic/recurrent acute tonsillitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014; 2014CD001802 PubMed Google Scholar Until now, there was no basis to make confident decisions using national guidelines. 7 Mandavia R Schilder AGM Dimitriadis PA Mossialos E Addressing the challenges in tonsillectomy research to inform health care policy: a review. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017; 143: 943-947 Crossref PubMed Scopus (10) Google Scholar Conservative management versus tonsillectomy in adults with recurrent acute tonsillitis in the UK (NATTINA): a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trialCompared with conservative management, immediate tonsillectomy is clinically effective and cost-effective in adults with recurrent acute tonsillitis. Full-Text PDF Open Access

BiZact™ tonsillectomy: Predictive factors for post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage from a 1717 case series.

To determine primary and secondary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage (PTH) rates and identify predictive factors in a cohort of consecutive adult and paediatric BiZact™ tonsillectomy cases. Retrospective cohort study. Patients from Flinders Medical Centre, Noarlunga Hospital and private otolaryngology practices who underwent BiZact™ tonsillectomy from 2017 to 2020. patient age, indication for tonsillectomy, surgeon experience, time and severity of PTH, including return to theatre. Each secondary PTH was graded using the Stammberger classification. Logistic regression was utilised to identify predictors of secondary PTH. One thousand seven hundred and seventeen patient medical records were assessed (658 adults and 1059 children). The primary PTH rate was 0.1%, and secondary PTH rate was 5.9%. The majority of secondary PTH cases were Stammberger grade A (80/102, 78.4%) requiring observation only. Few secondary PTH required medical intervention (grade B; 9/102, 8.8%), return to theatre (grade C; 12/102, 11.8%), or blood transfusion (grade D; 1/102, 1.0%), with no death reported (grade E; 0/102, 0.0%). Recurrent secondary PTH occurred in 8 patients (0.5%). Predictive factors of secondary PTH in children were surgeon experience with trainees having greater chance of PTH (OR 2.502, 95% CI 1.345-4.654; p = .004) and age of child (OR 1.095, 95% CI 1.025-1.170; p = .007). Surgeon experience was a predictive factor for adults (OR 3.804, 95% CI 2.139-6.674; p < .001). BiZact™ tonsillectomy has a low primary PTH rate, with a secondary PTH rate comparable to other 'hot tonsillectomy' techniques. The majority of PTH events were minor and self-reported. There appears to be a learning curve for trainee surgeons.

Adult tonsillectomy-increased pain scores are correlated with risk of bleeding: a retrospective cohort study.

Tonsillectomy is among the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide, and post-tonsillectomy bleeding is a serious complication. This study aims to investigate the role of post-operative pain as a risk factor for bleeding in adults. A retrospective cohort study of adults who underwent tonsillectomy in a tertiary referral center between 2015-2021. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, diagnoses, surgical technique, treatments, pain scores (measured by visual analogue scale 0-10), readmissions, and bleeding events. The primary outcome was return to the operating room for hemostasis, and secondary outcomes were bleeding events and consumption of additional analgesic doses. Of the 274 patients, 137 (50%) were males, the mean age was 30.3 ± 12years (range 18-82), and 33 (12%) were smokers. Indications for tonsillectomy were recurrent throat infections in 213 (77.7%) patients and obstructive sleep apnea in 61 (22.3%). Surgical technique was cold dissection in 238 (86.9%) patients and electrocautery in 36 (13.1%). Primary post-tonsillectomy bleeding (< 24h of surgery) occurred in 6 (2%) patients, and secondary bleeding (later than 24h from tonsillectomy) in 43 (15.7%). A total of 19 (7%) patients necessitated surgical hemostasis. After controlling for technique and other confounders, high pain scores (VAS ≥ 5) on post-operative days 1 and 2 were associated with increased risk of bleeding that necessitated surgical hemostasis (adjusted odds ratio 6.9, 95% confidence interval 1.7-44.5). Other independent risk factors were male sex, age < 30years, smoking, and recurrent throat infections. Higher pain scores following tonsillectomy are correlated with bleeding episodes requiring surgical intervention in adults. Further studies may explore the role of different intensive pain regimens in minimizing the risk of bleeding.

The pediatric indications for tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy: Race/ethnicity, age, and gender.

To evaluate how pediatric indications for tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy relate to gender, race/ethnicity, and age. Included consecutive pediatric patients who underwent tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy from a single tertiary academic institution between 2012 and 2019. Logistic regression analysis was used to measure association between the indication for tonsillectomy and the demographic variables gender, race/ethnicity, and age. Of the 1106 children included in this study, 53% were male and 47% were female. Half of the children were White, 40% were African American, 6% were Hispanic and 4% were other. The most common indication for surgery was upper airway obstruction alone (66%), followed by obstruction and infection (22%), and recurrent infections (12%). We found that male gender (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.24-2.04), African American race (OR 2.76, 95% CI 2.08-3.65), and younger age were associated with greater odds of presenting with upper airway obstruction as the indication for tonsillectomy. Conversely, male gender (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.44-0.92), African American race (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.26-0.61), and younger age were associated with lower odds of presenting with recurrent infection as the indication for tonsillectomy. Male gender, African American race, and young age are risk factors for tonsillar surgery due to airway obstruction. Female gender, White race, and older age are risk factors for tonsillar surgery due to recurrent throat infections. 3.

Knowledge of Tonsillectomy Indications among Primary Healthcare Physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background and Aims: Tonsillectomy is a common procedure in children and adults. Despite its popularity, many physicians still need to be adequately educated regarding the indications for tonsillectomy. Recurrent tonsillitis is the most common indication in which primary care physicians seek consultation from otolaryngology. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of indications for tonsillectomy among primary healthcare physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and August 2022, with a sample size of 100 male and female primary healthcare physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire on demo¬graphic data, clinical practice and exposure, and basic knowledge of current tonsillectomy indications was administered to the participants, and data were analyzed. Results: Of the 73 primary care providers included in the study, almost 70% had an average-to-poor knowledge of tonsillectomy indications. Women had better knowledge than men. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that primary healthcare physicians’ knowledge regarding adenotonsillectomy indications is still inadequate. Enrichment of the otolaryngology teaching at medical school and in residency programs is essential for optimization of the primary care delivered to patients.

Observation of Posttonsillectomy Wounds Using Endoscopy and Examination of the Postoperative Course by Wound Type

Palatine tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure that novice otolaryngologists should master early and is taught at many medical institutions. Unfortunately, however, the transoral procedure cannot provide a large enough field-of-view to doctors other than the one performing the operation. Therefore, it is difficult to share the surgical field and provide real-time teaching. Dissection of the wrong layer can cause postoperative bleeding and pain. Our department uses a 70°, 4-mm rigid endoscope for palatine tonsillectomy, which makes it possible for preceptors to teach tonsillectomy in real time and to evaluate the condition of the postoperative wound in detail. We classified the postoperative state after tonsillectomy into three stages, based on the degree of residual subcapsular connective tissue. We assessed the association between the amount of residual subcapsular connective tissue and the underlying indication for tonsillectomy, the postoperative course, and the operation time in 33 patients who had undergone palatine tonsillectomy at our institution between May 2017 and November 2020. We found that the more the subcapsular connective tissue that remained, the less the postoperative pain and bleeding. This association suggests that conserving the subcapsular connective tissue is important. Bringing the endoscope closer to the surgical field to observe the field without blind areas enables adequate hemostasis and easy sharing of the surgical field; therefore, this method is also effective for teaching tonsillectomy to surgical trainees.

Efficacy and indications of tonsillectomy in patients with IgA nephropathy: a retrospective study.

The efficacy and indications of tonsillectomy in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) remain uncertain. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 452 patients with primary IgAN, including 226 patients who received tonsillectomy and 226 controls selected by propensity score matching who had never undergone tonsillectomy. Study outcomes were clinical remission defined as negative hematuria and proteinuria on three consecutive visits over a 6-month period, the endpoint defined as end-stage renal disease or an irreversible 100% increase in serum creatinine from the baseline value. In addition, we further analyzed the critical level of proteinuria in the efficacy of tonsillectomy and the correlation between MEST-C score and tonsillectomy. Up to December 2019, the follow-up period lasted 46±23 months (12-106 months). Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that tonsillectomy was beneficial for clinical remission and renal survival. Whether proteinuria was ≤ 1 g/24h or >1g/24h, the clinical remission and renal survival rates were greater in patients treated with tonsillectomy than without. When the pathological damage was mild or relatively severe, tonsillectomy may be beneficial to clinical remission or renal survival. Tonsillectomy had a favorable effect on clinical remission and delayed renal deterioration in IgAN. In addition to patients with early stage IgAN, it may also be beneficial to IgAN patients with higher levels of proteinuria and relatively severe pathological damage.

Tonsillectomy in Children with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common procedures performed in children, however there are currently no published studies evaluating tonsillectomy in children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS). With this study, our goal was to investigate the indications, efficacy, and complications of tonsillectomy in a pediatric cohort of patients with 22q11DS. This is a retrospective chart review of patients in our 22q Center's repository. Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of 22q11DS and a history of tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy. Data collected included: indications for tonsillectomy, preoperative and postoperative polysomnography (PSG) results, and surgical complications. In total, 33 patients were included. Most common indications for tonsillectomy were facilitation with speech surgery (n = 21) and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB)/obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (n = 16). Average length of stay was 1.15 days. Most patients (69%) had some degree of persistent OSA on postoperative PSG. Complications occurred in 18% of patients and included respiratory distress, hemorrhage, and hypocalcemia. This study demonstrates tonsillectomy was a commonly performed procedure in this cohort of patients with 22q11DS. These data highlight the potential need for close postoperative calcium and respiratory monitoring. The data were limited with respect to PSG outcomes, and future studies are needed to better characterize OSA outcomes and complications in this patient population.

Dependent factors in the adult patient and their relationship with post-tonsillectomy bleeding and pain in an outpatient setting

Introduction and objectiveTonsillectomy performed on an outpatient basis in adult patients presents bleeding and pain as main postoperative complications.Following rules such as cold surgical technique, analgesic protocols, preoperative interview, and postoperative follow-up help to better control the process. However, there are patient-dependent factors such as sex, age, indication for tonsillectomy and the time elapsed between the last tonsil infection and surgical intervention that can influence postoperative complications and should be considered.The objective of this work is to evaluate the influence of age, sex, the indication for tonsillectomy and the period elapsed between the last tonsil infection and surgery on bleeding and pain control. MethodsA prospective, descriptive, and observational study was carried out in 96 adult patients who underwent outpatient surgery under general anaesthesia, using cold surgical technique, evaluating these complications based on age, sex, indication for tonsillectomy and time elapsed after the last tonsillitis. ResultsThe patients operated on during the 4 weeks after an episode of tonsillitis presented more postoperative pain. No relationship was found between this period and postoperative bleeding. ConclusionsMale patients had a higher incidence of bleeding than women.The period elapsed between the last tonsil infection and the surgical procedure was associated with greater postoperative pain, but not with greater postoperative bleeding.

Efficacy of obstructive sleep apnea treatment by antileukotriene receptor and surgery therapy in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy: A descriptive and cohort study

BackgroundPrevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy is high and related to the occlusion of the upper airway. The main treatments of OSA in these children is adenotonsillectomy. However, this intervention is an invasive method with a various success rate. Thus, the indications of tonsillectomy remain debatable and non-invasive treatment is still a potential choice in these patients.MethodsIt was a cross-sectional and interventional study. This study included children aged from 2 to 12 years-old who were diagnosed with OSA by respiratory polygraphy and had tonsillar hypertrophy with/without adenoid hypertrophy. All main data including age, gender, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), clinical symptoms, and medical history were recorded for analysis. Physical examination and endoscopy were done to evaluate the size of tonsillar and adenoid hypertrophy by using Brodsky and Likert classifications, respectively. The severity of OSA was done by using the classification of AHI severity for children.ResultsThere were 114 patients (2–12 years old) with a mean age of 5.5 ± 2.1 years included in the present study. The main reasons for consultations were snoring (96.7%), a pause of breathing (57.1%), an effort to breathe (36.8%), unrefreshing sleep (32%), doziness (28.2%), and hyperactivity (26.3%). There were 36% of subjects with tonsillar hypertrophy grade 1–2, 48.2% with grade 3, and 15.8% with grade 4 (Brodsky classification); among them, there were 46.5% of subjects with grades 1–2 of adenoid hypertrophy, 45.6% with grade 3, and 7.0% with grade 4 (Likert classification). The mean AHI was 12.6 ± 11.2 event/h. There was a significant correlation between the mean AHI and the level of tonsillar and adenoid hypertrophy severity (r = 0.7601 and r = 0.7903; p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively). The improvement of clinical symptoms of study subjects was found in both groups treated with ALR (antileukotriene receptor) or ST (surgery therapy). The symptoms related to OSA at night including snoring, struggle to breathe, sleeping with the mouth open, and stopping breathing during sleep were significantly improved after treatment with ATR and with ST (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). The mean AHI was significantly reduced in comparison with before treatment in study subjects treated with ALR (0.9 ± 1.0 vs. 3.9 ± 2.7 events/h; p = 0.001) or with ST (3.5 ± 1.4 vs. 23.4 ± 13.1 events/h; p < 0.001).ConclusionThe treatment of OSA due to adeno-tonsillar hypertrophy with ALR for moderate OSA or surgery for severe OSA might reduce the symptoms related to OSA at night and during the day.

Morphofunctional changes following adenotonsillectomy of obstructive sleep apnea children: a case series analysis

ObjectiveTo perform a case series analysis of the changes in the pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), nasal inspiratory flow (NIF), upper airway volume, obstructive apnea/hypopnea index (OAHI), and the maxillomandibular three-dimensional (3D) morphology after adenotonsillectomy (T&A) of obstructive sleep apnea children (OSA).Materials and methodsRetrospective assessment of files from 1002 children screened between 2012 and 2020 in a hospital-based mouth-breather referral center. From this universe, 15 obstructive sleep apnea children (7 females; 8 males), ages 4.1 to 8.9 years old (mean age of 5.4 years ± 1.3), who presented indications of tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy were selected. The complete baseline examination (T0) was carried out before T&A and a second complete examination (T1) was made 18.7-month follow-up after T&A (ranging from 12 to 30 months). Eleven patients were submitted to T&A, and four patients had indications but did not receive authorization for surgery from the public health system. According to the protocol of the outpatient clinic for OSA patients, Doppler echocardiography, polysomnography, rhinomanometry, and computed tomography imaging was performed at (T0) and (T1).ResultsPASP decreased 16.6% after T&A. NIF increased more in T&A children (40.3%) than in non-T&A children (16.8%). The upper airway volume increased in T&A and non-T&A children, but greater volumetric gain (45.6%) was found in the nasopharynx of T&A patients. OAHI did not change in six T&A children (55%) and three non-T&A children (75%). The maxilla displaced downward and backward relative to the cranial base in six T&A children (55%) and two untreated children (50%). Nine of the T&A children (85%) and three untreated children (75%) presented extensive condylar growth and increased mandibular length. The qualitative 3D assessment showed similar morphological 3D changes in T&A and non-T&A patients.ConclusionPulmonary artery systolic pressure decreased, nasal inspiratory flow increased, and nasopharynx volume increased following adenotonsillectomy, but obstructive apnea/hypopnea index and maxillomandibular morphology were similar in surgical and non-surgical patients.