Pediatric Tonsil Research Articles

The Efficacy of Paraprobiotic Lozenges (Lactobacillus helveticus MIMLh5) for the Prevention of Acute and Chronic Nose and Throat Infections in Children.

Background and Objectives: Tonsillitis is common in children and is predominantly caused by viruses and, less frequently, by bacteria such as group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. The treatment primarily involves supportive care; however, the overuse of antibiotics remains a concern due to rising antibiotic resistance. Probiotics, particularly Lactobacillus strains, have been shown to modulate immune responses, offering a potential alternative treatment. Materials and Methods: Our prospective single-arm, open-label study included 98 pediatric patients aged 5-15 years with recurrent throat and tonsil infections, from October 2022 to January 2023. Patients received lozenges containing heat-killed Lactobacillus helveticus MIMLh5. Monthly follow-ups involved a comprehensive ear, nose, and throat examination, throat cultures, and recording the frequency of infections and antibiotic use. Data were analyzed using SPSS 29.0, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: After three months, significant reductions were observed in the occurrences of nose and throat infections (p < 0.001), enlarged submandibular glands (p < 0.001), and positive throat cultures (p < 0.001). Antibiotic and corticosteroid prescriptions also significantly decreased (p < 0.001). Among children aged 5-10 years, significant improvements were noted in throat and tonsil infections (p < 0.001) and positive throat cultures (p = 0.012). Overall, there was a substantial reduction in school days missed (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The use of paraprobiotic Lactobacillus helveticus MIMLh5 lozenges significantly reduced the incidence of recurrent throat and tonsil infections in children, decreased the need for antibiotics and corticosteroids, and improved overall clinical outcomes without adverse effects. These findings support the use of paraprobiotic supplements as a safe and effective preventive measure for pediatric throat and tonsil infections.

Distinct Localization, Transcriptional Profiles, and Functionality in Early Life Tonsil Regulatory T Cells.

CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are key orchestrators of the immune system, fostering the establishment of protective immunity while preventing deleterious responses. Infancy and childhood are crucial periods of rapid immunologic development, but how Tregs mediate immune responses at these earliest timepoints of human life is poorly understood. In this study, we compare blood and tissue (tonsil) Tregs across pediatric and adult subjects to investigate age-related differences in Treg biology. We observed increased FOXP3 expression and proportions of Tregs in tonsil compared with paired blood samples in children. Within tonsil, early life Tregs accumulated in extrafollicular regions with cellular interactions biased toward CD8+ T cells. Tonsil Tregs in both children and adults expressed transcriptional profiles enriched for lineage defining signatures and canonical functionality compared with blood, suggesting tissue as the primary site of Treg activity. Early life tonsil Tregs transcriptional profiles were further defined by pathways associated with activation, proliferation, and polyfunctionality. Observed differences in pediatric tonsil Treg transcriptional signatures were associated with phenotypic differences, high proliferative capacity, and robust production of IL-10 compared with adult Tregs. These results identify tissue as a major driver of Treg identity, provide new insights into developmental differences in Treg biology across the human lifespan, and demonstrate unique functional properties of early life Tregs.

Lidocaine aerosol preoperative application for improving the comfort of pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: A prospective randomized controlled trial.

The use of lidocaine aerosol for pediatric tonsil and adenoidectomy has been reported less frequently. We hope to improve the perioperative comfort of pediatric patients undergoing these procedures by applying lidocaine aerosol. A total of 122 pediatric patients receiving tonsil and adenoidectomy were randomly divided into a lidocaine aerosol group (Group L) and a saline group (Group C), with 61 patients in each group; 2.4% alkaline lidocaine aerosol and saline were sprayed in the pharynx before induction. Our primary outcome were the incidence and rate ratio (RR) of postoperative pharyngeal complications (oropharyngeal dryness, dysphagia, hoarseness, and sore throat) and the pharyngeal comfort score, the latter of which was assessed by the occurrence of the above complications (yes = 0 point, none = 1 point). The secondary outcomes included preoperative and intraoperative blood pressure and heart rate, the incidence of choking during the induction period, the intraoperative opioid dosage, and the pain level and depth of sedation at 2, 6, and 24 h postoperatively. Statistical software used in this study included PASS15.0, SPSS 26.0, and GraphPad Prism 9.3.1, and statistical methods used included the t-test, the χ² test, the Mann-Whitney U test, and the repeated measures analysis of variance. The incidence and RR of postoperative pharyngeal complications such as oropharyngeal dryness (RR: 0.667, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.458-0.970, p = 0.03), dysphagia (RR: 0.333, 95% CI: 0.114-0.976, p = 0.03), hoarseness (RR: 0.647, 95% CI: 0.433-0.967, p = 0.03), and sore throat (RR: 0.727, 95% CI: 0.547-0.967, p = 0.03) were significantly lower in Group L than in Group C at 2 h postoperatively, and the incidence and RR of postoperative sore throat was significantly lower in Group L than in Group C at 6 h postoperatively (RR: 0.717, 95% CI: 0.547-0.942, p = 0.01). The postoperative pharyngeal comfort scores were significantly higher in Group L than in Group C at all postoperative time points (p < 0.05). The Ramsay sedation score was significantly higher (p < 0.01) and FLACC (face, legs, activity, crying, and consolability) score was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in Group L than in Group C at 2 h postoperatively. In Group C, the blood pressure and heart rate significantly faster at all time points immediately after intubation and afterward, except at the end of surgery (p < 0.05). In pediatric tonsil and adenoidectomy, the application of lidocaine aerosol before induction can reduce the incidence of postoperative pharyngeal complications, improve the child's postoperative pharyngeal comfort, and better realize perioperative "comfort medical treatment."

Technical standards for coblation therapy in pediatric adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy

Technical standards for coblation therapy in pediatric adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy

Impact of Tonsillectomy on the Life Quality of Parents to Children With Obstructive Sleep‐Disordered Breathing

Parents of children with any chronic illness may experience increased anxiety and reduced health-related quality of life (QoL). Our objective was to evaluate the change in parental QoL before vs after tonsillectomy. Our hypothesis was that pediatric tonsil surgery with or without adenoidectomy would improve parental QoL. A prospective cohort study. An otolaryngology department in a tertiary academic center. We enrolled parents of 79 children <5 years old. Adenotonsillectomy due to an obstructive airway indication was performed in 45 children. A group of 34 parents to healthy children served as a control group. Initially, we validated a modified version of the PAR-ENT-QoL questionnaire; then, we analyzed QoL parameters among parents of children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing before and after surgical treatment. We found significant differences between the QoL score before and after surgery (P = .003). The QoL score after surgery significantly improved and was even lower than that of the control group (P < .001). These results highlight the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment of children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing, as this condition may affect not only the children themselves but also their caregivers.

The Tonsil Lymphocyte Landscape in Pediatric Tonsil Hyperplasia and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Tonsil hyperplasia is the most common cause of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Despite the growing knowledge in tissue immunology of tonsils, the immunopathology driving tonsil hyperplasia and OSA remains unknown. Here we used multi-parametric flow cytometry to analyze the composition and phenotype of tonsillar innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), T cells, and B cells from pediatric patients with OSA, who had previous polysomnography. Unbiased clustering analysis was used to delineate and compare lymphocyte heterogeneity between two patient groups: children with small tonsils and moderate OSA (n = 6) or large tonsils and very severe OSA (n = 13). We detected disturbed ILC and B cell proportions in patients with large tonsils, characterized by an increase in the frequency of naïve CD27-CD21hi B cells and a relative reduction of ILCs. The enrichment of naïve B cells was not commensurate with elevated Ki67 expression, suggesting defective differentiation and/or migration rather than cellular proliferation to be the causative mechanism. Finally, yet importantly, we provide the flow cytometry data to be used as a resource for additional translational studies aimed at investigating the immunological mechanisms of pediatric tonsil hyperplasia and OSA.

Tonsillectomy and hematologic malignancy: Should routine pediatric tonsillectomy specimens be sent to pathology?

ObjectivesRoutine pediatric tonsillectomy ± adenoidectomy (T ± A) is one of the most common procedures for children worldwide, accounting for approximately 2000 procedures per year at our institution. To determine the utility of pathologic analysis of routine, nonsuspicious pediatric tonsil specimens, we investigated the incidence of hematologic and lymphoid malignancy diagnosed at the time of or following T ± A. MethodsRetrospective review of patients 0–18 years undergoing T ± A between 2012 and 2020 with or without pathologic analysis. ResultsIncluded were 14,141 patients who underwent routine T ± A (mean age 11 ± 4.6 years, 48% female). Of these, tonsils of 2464 patients were sent to pathology, where zero were found to harbor malignancy. Seven patients (0.050%) developed malignancy after T ± A. Of these, 4 had unremarkable tonsils per pathology, and 3 did not have tonsils analyzed. There were 5 cases of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL, 0.035%), 1 case of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (0.007%), and 1 case of Lymphoma (0.007%). The average length of time from T ± A to diagnosis was 2.4 ± 1.8 years. ConclusionNo cases of occult malignancy were identified in specimens from routine T ± A with pathologic analysis, even among patients who later developed malignancy. This study suggests that sending routine pediatric T ± A specimens for formal pathologic analysis is an inefficient use of resources without appreciably improving the quality and safety of patient care.

Establishment of resilience in a challenging recovery at home after pediatric tonsil surgery-Children's and caregivers' perspectives.

The objective of this study was to explore children's and caregivers’ experiences and management of postoperative recovery at home after tonsil surgery. The study had an explorative qualitative design with an inductive approach. Twenty children (5‐12 years of age) undergoing tonsillectomy or tonsillotomy with or without adenoidectomy participated along with their caregivers in semi‐structured interviews at a mean time of 28 days after surgery. The interviews were analyzed with content analysis. One main category emerged from the interviews: children and caregivers struggle to establish resilience in a challenging recovery. The families’ resilience relied on their situational awareness and capacity to act, which in turn formed a basis for the ability to return to normal daily life. Children and caregivers described the recovery as an evident interruption of daily life which had an impact on the children's physical and psychological well‐being. Both children and caregivers described the pain as a central concern. The families used different pharmacological and complementary strategies to manage the pain, which in some cases were complex. Some families said that the analgesics were insufficient in preventing breakthrough pain, and spoke about a lack of support as well as inadequate and contradictory information from healthcare staff. Caregivers also expressed uncertainty, ambivalence, or anxiety about the responsibility associated with their child's recovery. To optimize and support the recovery after tonsil surgery, it is crucial to obtain knowledge of children's and caregivers’ perspectives of postoperative recovery at home. The results indicate that the postoperative period included several troublesome experiences for which neither the children nor the caregivers were informed or prepared. The experience of pain was significant, and often complex to manage. To increase families’ resilience, the information provided by healthcare professionals needs to be broadened. Multidisciplinary teamwork is necessary to achieve this goal.

Postoperative pain, pain management, and recovery at home after pediatric tonsil surgery

PurposeTo explore the severity and duration of postoperative pain, the management of analgesics, and postoperative recovery in children undergoing tonsil surgery.MethodParticipants included 299 children aged 4–17 years undergoing tonsillotomy ± adenoidectomy (TT ± A) or tonsillectomy ± adenoidectomy (TE ± A). Data were collected up to 12 days. The child rated pain on the Face Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) and recovery using the Postoperative Recovery in Children (PRiC) questionnaire. Caregivers assessed their child's pain, anxiety, and nausea on a numeric analog scale and kept a log of analgesic administration.ResultsHigh pain levels (FPS-R ≥ 4) were reported in all surgical and age groups (TT ± A age 4–11, TE ± A age 4–11, TE ± A age 12–17), but there were variations in pain intensity and duration within and between groups. The TE ± A group scored more days with moderate to very excruciating pain and lower recovery than the TT ± A group, with the worst outcomes reported by older TE ± A children. The majority of the children used paracetamol + COX-inhibitors at home, but regular administration of analgesics was lacking, particularly during late evening and at night. Few were received rescue medication (opioid or clonidine) despite severe pain. Physical symptoms and daily life activities were affected during the recovery period. There was moderate agreement between child and the caregiver’s pain assessment scores.ConclusionChildren reported a troublesome recovery with significant postoperative pain, particularly older children undergoing tonsillectomy. Pain treatment at home was suboptimal and lacked regular analgesic administration. Patient information needs to be improved regarding the importance of regular administration of analgesics and rescue medication.

Development of the nasopharynx: A radiological study of children.

The relation between pharyngeal tonsil and the bony nasopharynx determines the nasopharyngeal airway patency. Despite its importance, an anatomical study utilizing advanced imaging has not been conducted. The aim of the study was to evaluate the pharyngeal tonsil and bony nasopharynx depth and their ratio (adenoid-nasopharyngeal ratio [ANR]) with relation to sex and age in the general pediatric population. After excluding reported history of adenoidectomy, acute upper airway illness, allergy, and poor quality, 200 randomly selected head computed tomographies (CTs) of children were evaluated. CTs were divided into five age groups (0-5, 5.1-8, 8.1-11, 11.1-14, and 14.1-17 years). For each CT scan, the pharyngeal tonsil, bony nasopharynx and ANR values were calculated. A significant difference was found in the bony nasopharynx and pharyngeal tonsil depth between the five age subgroups (P < 0.001). Both bony nasopharynx and pharyngeal tonsil depth significantly increased between the age groups of 0-5 years to 5.1-8 years (4.17 mm increase, P < 0.001 and 3.47 mm increase, P < 0.009, respectively). The pharyngeal tonsil depth gradually decreases following the age of 8 years. No difference was found between age groups beyond age of eight for both the pharyngeal tonsil tissue and the bony nasopharynx. The ANR has an upward trend in the age group of 5.1-8 years. No sexual predilection was found. The bony nasopharynx and the pharyngeal tonsil tissue both grow during childhood. Different growth rates result in the narrowest airway in the age group of 5.1-8 years (ANR peak). These growth curves should be taken under consideration when treating pediatric pharyngeal tonsil hypertrophy. Clin. Anat., 33:1019-1024, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Associations among sleep symptoms, physical examination, and polysomnographic findings in children with obstructive sleep apnea.

The relationships among PSG findings, OSA symptoms, and tonsil and adenoid size are not clear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the associations between pediatric OSA and tonsil and adenoid size using subjective (OSA-18 questionnaire) and objective (PSG) measurements. 101 consecutive patients aged from 2 to 12years (mean age, 5.4 ± 2.2years; boys, 72.3%) diagnosed with OSA were enrolled in two age groups (2-6years group and 7-12years group) and underwent PSG and lateral cephalometric radiography. Tonsil size and the adenoid-nasopharyngeal (A/N) ratio were determined. Quality of life and sleep symptoms were measured using the Chinese version OSA-18 questionnaire. Demographic and clinical data were obtained. 75 and 26 patients were separately enrolled in 2-6years group and 7-12years group. In 2-6years group, the multiple linear regression revealed that tonsil size and A/N ratio were associated with log apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and the Spearman's rank correlation reflected a positive correlation between log AHI and the OSA-18 sleep disturbance score (r = 0.362, P = 0.001). Log OSA-18 score was correlated with tonsil size (r = 0.349, P = 0.002) but not the A/N ratio in 2-6years group. Finally, no significant associations were observed between log OSA-18 scores and log AHI in all patients. As PSG stays the golden standard for diagnoses of pediatric OSA, physical examinations and quality-of-life assessments are needed to fully assess the impact of OSA on children.

A Survival Analysis of Pediatric Tonsillar Malignancies and Review of a Rare Case

ObjectiveTo examine the survival of pediatric tonsillar cancer patients and review a rare case of pediatric tonsillar cancer. MethodsPediatric patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were included from 1973 to 2014 based on a diagnosis of tonsillar malignancy using the ICD O-3 tonsil primary site codes of: C09.0, C09.1, C09.8, and C09.9. Patients were included from birth-18 years. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Additionally, a case of pediatric natural killer (NK) cell tonsillar lymphoma diagnosed and treated at the Nemours Children's hospital in Orlando, Florida is presented. ResultsOne hundred forty-one cases of tonsil cancer were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 9.9 years (SD: 5.1, range: 0.0 (months)–18.0). Ninety five (67.4%) patients were male and 116 (82.3%) had unilateral malignancies. Burkitt lymphoma (32.6%) followed by diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (27.0%) were the two most common histological types of tonsillar cancers. 79.4% of patients received chemotherapy and 81.6% received surgery as a part of their care. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was >90% for patient cohorts diagnosed from 1984 to 1993, 1994–2003, and 2004–2014 as compared to 64% for patients diagnosed from 1973 to 1983 (p = 0.01). ConclusionsSurvival rates for pediatric patients with tonsillar cancer are excellent. Pediatric primary tonsil cancer occurred most commonly in adolescent males and usually presents as a unilateral mass. Lymphoma remains the predominant histological type of cancer. Most patients are likely to receive surgery and chemotherapy.

Changing trends in pediatric tonsil surgery

ObjectivesWe analyzed trends in tonsil surgery over a 10-year period in a single tertiary care hospital and evaluated the effects of these changes on use of hospital services and healthcare costs. MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study based on data from databases at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. Children under 16 years of age with tonsillectomy (TE) or tonsillotomy (TT) performed during 2007–2016 were included in the study. ResultsIn 10 years, 4979 tonsil surgeries were performed on 4951 children: TE in 3170 (64%) and TT in 1781 (36%) children. The total number of tonsil surgeries stayed nearly constant. TT operations commenced in the study hospital in 2009 and from 2012 onwards have been more common than TE procedures. Altogether 279 patients visited the emergency department because of complications; TE patients had 9.0 visits/100 surgeries and TT patients 1.8 visits/100 surgeries. The most common complication was postoperative hemorrhage: 200 cases (6.3%) in the TE group and 11 cases (0.6%) in the TT group. During the two-year follow-up after tonsil surgery the total costs of healthcare services were significantly lower in the TT group than in the TE group. ConclusionConsiderable changes have occurred in tonsil surgery in children during the 10-year study period; TT is today performed more often than TE. As a consequence, complications, readmissions to hospital, and number of patients treated in the operating room because of postoperative hemorrhage have decreased, lowering the costs of healthcare.

Occult malignancy in pediatric tonsil and adenoid surgeries – A national survey

ObjectiveTo evaluate the incidence of tonsil and adenoid malignancy in pediatric patients in Israel compared to the known literature and to revisit the common practice of routine histopathologic examination of tonsils and adenoids. MethodsAnalysis of the Israel National Cancer Registry data on pediatric tonsil and adenoid malignancies between the years 2005 and 2015, and a systematic literature review of all relevant articles that reported on malignancies amongst pediatric patients who underwent tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy. ResultsOnly seven cases of tonsillar malignancies were documented out of 152,352 (0.0052%) surgeries in the pediatric population. All malignancies were lymphoproliferative and mainly Burkitt's lymphoma. In our medical center no malignancy was found in 2165 patients in the same age groups and time period. We found the incidence of tonsillar malignancy in Israel to be significantly lower (p = 0.013) compared to the previously described literature. ConclusionThe incidence of malignancy in routine histopathological examination of tonsils and adenoids is Israel is very low when compared to the known literature. According to these results, we suggest that routine histopathological examination of all such samples is not clinically justified.

Pediatric Tonsil Cancer: A National and Institutional Perspective

To evaluate childhood and adolescent tonsil cancer incidence and to identify the clinical characteristics indicative of those patients who would benefit from urgent operative intervention. The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results 18 database, inclusive of national cancer statistics from 1973 to 2013, provided quantitative tonsil cancer incidence data. An institutional retrospective chart review of pediatric patients diagnosed with tonsil malignancy from January 2013 to January 2017 identified supplementary qualitative clinical presentation information. The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results 18 database included 138 pediatric patients with tonsil cancer with an age-adjusted incidence rate of 0.021/100 000 patients per year. The majority of cases were unilateral (79.7%), and there was both a male and Caucasian predominance. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (84.1%) was the most common malignancy, of which Burkitt lymphoma (31.1%), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (26.8%), and follicular lymphoma (10.1%) were the most common subtypes. Five tonsillar malignancy patients were identified upon institutional chart review. The majority likewise had non-Hodgkin lymphoma and all shared a history of rapid tonsillar enlargement over ≤12 weeks. Significant tonsillar asymmetry was present in 4 patients. Four patients additionally exhibited prominent cervical lymphadenopathy. Pediatric tonsil cancer is rare, with non-Hodgkin lymphoma accounting for the majority of pediatric tonsillar malignancies. A high index of suspicion is appropriate in children who present with relatively rapid tonsil enlargement, tonsillar asymmetry characterized by a difference in tonsillar size of ≥2 degrees on the Brodsky scale, or concurrent prominent cervical lymphadenopathy.

Application of fast track surgery in Ttonsillectomy or adenoidectomy perioperative nursing

Objective To explore the application effect of fast track surgery in tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy perioperative nursing. Methods Totally 123 Patients with tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy were selected as study group to receive the nursing care under the guidance of the concept of fast track surgery. 74 patients with the same surgery from early clinical data who were treated by traditional nursing care were selected as control group. Postoperative pain score, length of hospital stay, the incidence of complications and the families of children with satisfaction were compared between the two groups. Results The average hospital stay was (4.56±1.28) d in the study group and (6.32±1.56) d in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (t=2.35, P 0.05), and there were statistically significant differences in the satisfaction of children and their families (χ2=23.05, P<0.01) . Conclusion Application of fast track surgery concept in the perioperative care of pediatric tonsil adenoidectomy can relieve postoperative pain, shorten the length of hospital stay, improve the satisfaction degree of the patients and their families and is worth of being generalized. Key words: Tonsillectomy; Adenoidectomy; Nursing care; Fast track surgery

Application of perioperative personalized nursing in pediatric tonsil adenoidectomy surgery

Objective To explore the application effects of perioperative personalized nursing in pediatric tonsil adenoidectomy surgery, so as to find the optimum clinical nursing method. Methods A total of 180 cases of pediatric patients who underwent tonsil adenoidectomy surgery in Peking University Third Hospital from September 2015 to September 2016 were selected as the research objects, and divided into control group and observation group by random number table method, with 90 cases in each group. The control group was given routine perioperative nursing care, while the observation group was given perioperative personalized nursing care. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospitalization time, postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, the incidence of postoperative complications and major postoperative clinical symptoms disappearing time were compared between the two groups. Results In the observation group, the hospitalization time was (3.52±1.24) days, and VAS score was (2.89±1.07) , which were both significantly lower than those of the control group (5.63±1.05) days and (4.25±1.13) respectively. The differences were statistically significant (t=5.69, 6.25; P 0.05) . The disappearing time of nasal congestion, runny nose, nasal voice and sleep breathing symptoms of the observation group was shorter than those of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) . Conclusions The application of perioperative personalized nursing in pediatric tonsil adenoidectomy surgery can shorten the time of postoperative hospitalization and relieve the pain. Key words: Perioperative; Personalized care; Children; Tonsil adenoidectomy surgery

Patient reported pain-related outcome measures after tonsil surgery: an analysis of 32,225 children from the National Tonsil Surgery Register in Sweden 2009\u20132016

The objective of this study was to describe factors affecting pain after pediatric tonsil surgery, using patient reported pain-related outcome measures (pain-PROMs) from the National Tonsil Surgery Register in Sweden. In total, 32,225 tonsil surgeries on children (1 to <18 years) during 2009–2016 were included; 13,904 tonsillectomies with or without adenoidectomy (TE ± A), and 18,321 tonsillotomies with or without adenoidectomy (TT ± A). Adjustments were made for variables included in the register to compensate for contributable factors in the analysis. When compared to TE ± A for surgical indication obstruction, TT ± A resulted in lower pain-PROMs, shorter use of postoperative analgesics, earlier return to regular food intake, and lower risk for contact with health care services due to pain. Children who underwent TE ± A because of obstruction problems stopped taking painkillers and returned to normal eating habits sooner, compared to children who underwent TE ± A for infectious indications. In both indication groups, TE ± A performed with hot rather than cold technique (dissection and haemostasis) generally resulted in higher pain-PROMs. Older children reported more days on analgesics and a later return to regular food intake after TE ± A than younger ones. No clinically relevant difference between sexes was found. Between 2012 and 2016 (pre-and post-implementation of Swedish national guidelines for pain treatment), the mean duration of postoperative analgesic use had increased. In conclusion, TE ± A caused considerably higher ratings of pain-related outcome measures, compared to TT ± A. For TE ± A, cold surgical techniques (dissection and haemostasis) were superior to hot techniques in terms of pain-PROMs. Older children reported higher pain-PROMs after TE ± A than younger ones.

Adherence to Swedish guidelines for pain treatment in relation to pediatric tonsil surgery: A survey of the multidisciplinary team

BackgroundPain management in children after tonsil surgery is essential, and optimal pain treatment has been discussed for many years. Data from the National Tonsil Register in Sweden (NTRS) and a national mapping have demonstrated the need for national pain treatment guidelines for pediatric tonsil surgery. As a result, Swedish national guidelines, together with updated patient information on the website tonsilloperation.se, were developed and implemented in 2013. ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to evaluate the professionals' opinions of and adherence to pain treatment guidelines for pediatric tonsil surgery patients in a two-year follow-up. MethodThis descriptive cross-sectional study was based on data from an inter-professional questionnaire, which was validated by an expert group using a content validity index (S-CVI 0.93). The questionnaire was sent to all Swedish ear, nose and throat (ENT) departments (n = 49) that the NTRS identified as performing tonsil surgery on children younger than 18 years of age. In each clinic, we asked for responses from staff in each of the following professions: ENT physicians, anesthesia physicians, registered nurse anesthetists, and registered nurses in the ENT departments. ResultsRespondents from 48 ENT departments participated, and 139/163 (85%) completed questionnaires were returned. The guidelines were reported as being clear, ensuring patient safety and providing optimal pharmacological treatment. Treatment was given according to the guidelines: Half of the departments gave pre- or intraoperative treatment with clonidine, betamethasone and high-dose paracetamol (acetaminophen). A multimodal pain approach (paracetamol and COX-inhibitors) after hospital discharge was prescribed by all departments after tonsillectomy and, extensively, after tonsillotomy. One-third of the departments prescribed paracetamol with a higher normal dose for the first three postoperative days. Half of the departments prescribed rescue analgesics, clonidine or opioids after tonsillectomy. None of the departments prescribed codeine or tramadol, drugs that are discouraged in the guidelines. The majority of the departments used the website tonsilloperation.se to provide information to the patients and their caregivers. ConclusionThe respondents' opinions of and the ENT departments adherence to the Swedish national guidelines were considered to be good. The national implementation process in Sweden has impacted the manner in which ENT departments treat pain after tonsil surgery.

Model for prediction of pediatric OSA: Proposal for a clinical decision rule.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a syndrome frequently diagnosed in children; however, it lacks optimal diagnostic methods. This study aimed to provide a clinical decision rule for predicting pediatric OSA using commonly available clinical information. A prospective cohort study. Children between the ages of 3 to 6 years-old, referred for an otorhinolaryngology consultation due to clinical suspicion of OSA, were recruited from January to June 2014. At baseline age, weight, height, gender, body mass index, Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) scores, tonsil size, and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) were assessed. A logistic regression modeling was used with backward stepwise elimination to develop a prediction model. Sixty-seven children were included with a mean age of 4.51 years. Of the 67 children included in this study, 25 (37.3%) subjects were diagnosed with pediatric OSA. Significant predictors of pediatric OSA in the final model (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval) included PSQ score (5.12; 3.3-6.5), ODI (1.34; 1.0-1.79) and tonsil size (6.7; 3.22-9.75). The final decision rule had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 86%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.897. The proposed clinical decision rule, based on three readily available variables, is a promising discriminating instrument for prediction of OSA among children between 3 and 6 years. 2b.