耳内镜与显微镜下Ⅰ型鼓室成形术的临床疗效分析

目的 探讨耳内镜与显微镜下Ⅰ型鼓室成形术治疗鼓膜穿孔患者的临床疗效。方法 收集2017年1月-2020年10月因慢性化脓性中耳炎行Ⅰ型鼓室成形术122例（122耳）,其中耳内镜下Ⅰ型鼓室成形术（ETT）62例;显微镜下Ⅰ型鼓室成形术（MTT）60例。所有患者术后均随访6个月以上,比较两组患者术中出血量、鼓索神经损伤率、手术时间、术后出院时间、住院费用,鼓膜愈合情况,对手术前与术后6个月的平均气导听阈（PTA）,气骨导差（ABG）进行分析,采用视觉模拟评分（VAS）评估患者术后24h疼痛反应。结果 ETT组具有术中出血量少、手术时间短、术后疼痛反应轻、出院时间缩短、住院总费用少等优越性,两组差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。ETT和MTT组中鼓膜愈合率分别为93.5%和90.0%,鼓索神经损伤率分别为6.5%和8.3%;ETT组术前PTA为（43.2±11.3）dB、AGB为（19.8±8.6）dB,MTT组术前PTA为（45.6±12.1）dB,AGB为（21.3±9.4）dB。术后6个月复查PTA两组均下降,ETT组为（33.7±8.3）dB,MTT组为（35.3±9.1）dB;复查ABG两组均下降,ETT组为（9.4±6.1）dB,MTT组为（10.7±6.4）dB。两组术式差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论 与MTT相比,ETT能明显减轻术后疼痛、缩短手术时间、住院时间,减少总住院费。在术后穿孔修补、听力改善以及并发症等方面与传统手术MTT疗效相当,值得在中耳手术中推广使用。     

先天性耳廓畸形耳模矫正的疗效分析

目的 分析先天性耳廓畸形耳模矫正治疗的临床疗效。方法 回顾2019年1月—2021年12月在湖南省妇幼保健院耳鼻咽喉科门诊进行耳模矫正的201例（318耳）先天性耳廓畸形患儿，按患儿开始治疗的日龄将其分为3组：109例（181耳）<14 d的患儿为1组，75例（117耳）14～42 d的患儿为2组，17例（20耳）43～89 d的患儿为3组；分析3组患儿的治疗效果、治疗时长、并发症发生率等。结果 201例（318耳）先天性耳廓畸形患儿治疗的显效及治愈率为93.4%，佩戴时长平均（32.4±10.8） d，并发症发生率45.9%。3组的治疗显效及治愈率分别为96.7％、90.6％、80.0％，组间差异具有统计学意义（χ²=10.479，P=0.005）；3组的矫正时长分别为（30.2±10.4）、（35.2±10.8）、（35.5±9.7） d，组间差异具有统计学意义（F=8.940，P=0.000）；3组的并发症发生率分别为37.0％、59.8％和45.0％，差异具有统计学意义（χ²=14.900，P=0.001）。结论 先天性耳廓畸形患儿通过耳模矫正可获得良好的治疗效果，14 d内开始治疗有助于提高治疗效率，缩短治疗时长，降低并发症发生率。     

梅尔频率倒谱系数在声带息肉手术前后嗓音分析中的价值研究

目的 本研究拟通过提取患者嗓音中的梅尔频率倒谱系数(MFCC)指标,探讨其在声带息肉手术前后嗓音分析中的临床价值。方法 回顾性分析于2018年1月—2019年8月行声带息肉手术且术前及术后1个月均行嗓音评估的患者41例,男31例,女10例;平均年龄(42.9±11.4)岁。另选取无声嘶且无声带病变的正常受试者21例作为基线对照。使用基于Python编程语言的librosa语音处理包进行MFCC特征提取,分别提取每位患者的MFCC均值,MFCC方差与MFCC标准差,使用配对样本t检验比较声带息肉手术前后上述各MFCC特征的差异。结果 声带息肉患者术后MFCC均值1.25±1.01、MFCC方差561.34±154.98及MFCC标准差21.74±4.03比术前MFCC均值6.81±2.05、MFCC方差1 019.66±295.87及MFCC标准差34.37±6.63显著下降,差异具有统计学意义(t=18.596,P=0.000;t=10.338,P=0.000;t=11.852,P=0.000)。声带息肉组患者术后1个月其MFCC均值、MFCC方差及MFCC标准差与正常受试者相比差异均无统计学意义,表明绝大部分声带息肉患者术后嗓音得到良好的恢复。结论 本研究首次探索了MFCC在声带息肉手术前后嗓音分析中的价值, MFCC各特征可作为评估声带息肉术后嗓音恢复的指标。     

老年性聋患者认知功能障碍初探

目的 分析老年性聋患者认知功能障碍情况,初步探讨老年性聋患者认知功能障碍的干预措施。方法 以2018年10月-2020年4月于空军特色医学中心行听力测试及言语识别能力调查的55例60岁及以上老年性聋患者为研究对象,其中男27例,女28例;年龄60~95岁。所有研究对象完成纯音听阈测试（PTA）、简易智能精神状态量表（MMSE）评估及普通话快速噪声下言语测试（M-Quick SIN）,分析不同年龄、不同听力损失程度和信噪比损失（SNR loss）程度下老年性聋患者的MMSE得分情况。结果 ①60~69岁组MMSE得分（27.89±1.82）分,高于70~79岁组（26.35±2.03）分和≥ 80岁组（25.19±2.07）分的得分,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;70~79岁组和≥ 80岁组间MMSE量表得分的差异不具有统计学意义（P>0.05）;②不同听力损失组间MMSE量表得分的差异不具有统计学意义（P>0.05）;③轻度SNR loss组的MMSE量表得分（27.13±1.80）分高于重度SNR loss组（24.20±1.64）分（P<0.05）;轻度SNR loss组和中度SNR loss组、中度SNR loss组和重度SNR loss组间MMSE量表得分的差异不具有统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论 老年性聋患者认知功能障碍以SNR loss为主要特征,在听力损失早期进行干预是最佳时机。     

鼻声反射和鼻阻力测量在阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患者术后鼻功能评估中的应用

目的 探讨鼻声反射和鼻阻力测量在鼻腔扩容手术治疗鼻腔结构异常致阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征（OSAHS）患者鼻功能评估中的应用。方法 选择经多导睡眠监测（PSG）确诊且经视觉模拟量表（VAS）评估具有鼻塞、鼻内镜及鼻窦CT检查证实结构异常的成年OSAHS患者36例作为研究对象。根据检查结果实施个体化的鼻内镜下鼻腔扩容手术。术前及术后6个月所有患者均进行VAS评估、鼻声反射测量和鼻阻力测量,比较手术前后测量结果。结果 患者术前VAS评估计分、鼻腔吸气总阻力、鼻腔呼气总阻力、鼻腔最小横截面积、鼻腔容积、最小横截面积至前鼻孔的距离分别为（6.97±1.27）分、（2.07±1.07）kPa/L·S^-1、（2.15±1.09）kPa/L·S^-1、（0.39±0.16）cm²、（2.20±0.97）cm³及（1.97±0.47）cm;术后6个月分别为（1.33±0.92）分、（1.69±1.03）kPa/L·S^-1、（1.90±1.02）kPa/L·S^-1、（0.51±0.17）cm²、（2.73±1.05）cm³及（2.19±0.46）cm。手术前后各指标差异均具有统计学意义（P均<0.05）。结论 鼻腔扩容术可以显著改善伴有鼻腔结构异常的OSAHS患者的鼻通气功能,鼻声反射和鼻阻力测量能客观评估鼻腔扩容手术治疗前后伴有鼻腔结构异常的OSAHS患者鼻通气功能的变化。     

个性化设计3D打印鼻前庭支撑器用于鼻前庭区狭窄治疗的临床研究

目的 分析个性化设计3D打印鼻前庭器支撑扩张与常规支撑扩张对鼻前庭区狭窄治疗后鼻腔通气功能和前鼻孔形态上恢复疗效的评价。方法 73例单侧外伤性鼻前庭区狭窄的患者,随机分为两组,35例对照组采用常规支撑扩张,38例试验组采用3D打印鼻前庭器支撑扩张,分别从主观评价指标、客观的局部形态结构参数和数值模拟鼻腔气流动力学参数等方面来评价两组患者术前和支撑扩张治疗后鼻腔局部形态和功能恢复情况。结果 两组患者支撑治疗后鼻塞主观感觉和鼻孔对称性满意度视觉模拟评分(VAS)均较术前有明显改善(P<0.05),在鼻孔对称性满意度方面试验组评分高于对照组(P＜0.05);支撑扩张治疗后两组的鼻瓣区截面积[对照组(0.86±0.29)cm²和试验组(0.71±0.26)cm²]均较手术前明显增加(P<0.05), 其中对照组鼻瓣区截面积均值大于试验组(P<0.05),但鼻孔形态学参数显示支撑扩张治疗后试验组Δ_长轴比值和Δ_短轴比值的值均小于对照组(P<0.05),在恢复鼻孔形态上个性化设计3D打印的鼻前庭支撑器支撑扩张治疗更优;支撑扩张治疗后两组的狭窄侧鼻腔阻力均分别低于术前(P<0.05),并且试验组[(0.022±0.008)Pa.s.mL^-1]比对照组[(0.028±0.012)Pa.s.mL^-1]有更小的狭窄侧鼻腔阻力值(P<0.05),但两组的总鼻腔阻力值差别不明显(P=0.64);鼻腔气流温度与湿度调节功能参数结果显示,支撑扩张治疗后对照组(94.55±2.54)%和试验组(95.26±3.21)%患者的鼻腔气流的加温效率较手术前[对照组(95.45±2.93)%和试验组(96.14±2.63)%]均有明显减小(P<0.05),但两组之间患者总鼻腔加温效率和加湿效率无明显差异(P均＞0.05)。结论 个性化设计3D打印鼻前庭支撑器用于前鼻孔狭窄患者的术后支撑扩张治疗使前鼻孔外形、鼻腔正常的通气功能和鼻腔气流的温湿度调节作用均有较好的恢复,能够体现个性化治疗的优势并让患者获得更为满意的疗效,可作为临床上鼻前庭局部支撑扩张治疗的补充,其临床应用前景较好。     

手术预案汇报制度在耳鼻咽喉头颈外科住院医师规范化培训中的应用

目的 探讨手术预案汇报制度在耳鼻咽喉头颈外科住院医师规范化培训中的应用效果。方法 以2016—2020年在首都医科大学宣武医院耳鼻咽喉头颈外科进行住院医师规范化培训的15名住院医师为研究对象,分为实验组(8名)和对照组(7名)。对照组按照住院医师规范化培训大纲进行培训,实验组要求住院医师在完成培训大纲的基础上,制作并汇报手术预案,通过比较两组的出科考核成绩和年度考核成绩,分析手术预案汇报在教学中的效果。结果 实验组住院医师出科考核成绩为(92.44±2.41)分,而对照组为(88.79±2.67)分,差异具有统计学意义(t=-2.78,dF=13,P<0.05)。实验组住院医师年度考核成绩为(85.87±3.64)分,对照组为(80.29±2.98)分,差异具有统计学意义(t=-3.22,dF=13,P<0.05)。实验组8名住院医师共汇报预案397例,平均(49.62±17.20)例。结论 在耳鼻咽喉头颈外科住院医师规范化培训中,住院医师通过制作和汇报手术预案,巩固了基础理论知识、提高了临床思维能力,指导教师对预案中暴露出的问题进行针对性指导,提高了教学效果。     

中重度阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患儿二氧化碳的监测与分析

目的 探讨中重度阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征（OSAHS）患儿睡眠期CO₂波动趋势特点,分析其变化与多导睡眠监测（PSG）指标的相关性。方法 选取经PSG同时联合经皮二氧化碳分压（TcpCO₂）监测确诊的中重度OSAHS患儿21例（OSAHS组）,同期选取健康体检儿童25例作为对照组。比较两组儿童的一般情况、呼吸事件及睡眠期TcpCO₂趋势的特点,并将TcpCO₂平均值及最高值与各变量进行相关性分析。结果 OSAHS组患儿与对照组的体重指数（BMI）分别为（27.9±6.8）、（16.8±2.9） kg/m²;呼吸暂停低通气指数（AHI）分别为（21.6±17.2）、（1.3±1.0）次/h;阻塞型呼吸暂停指数（OAI）中位数分别为1.1、0.0次/h;阻塞型呼吸暂停低通气指数（OAHI）中位数分别为19.2、0.2次/h;氧减指数（ODI）分别为（19.5±16.9）、（1.1±1.0）次/h;TcpCO₂平均值分别（46.8±3.8）、（44.7±2.5） mmHg;TcpCO₂最高值分别为（54.8±5.3）、（48.9±3.3） mmHg;非快速眼动（NREM） TcpCO₂分别为（47.0±3.8）、（45.1±2.4） mmHg;快速眼动（REM） TcpCO₂分别为（48.0±5.2）、（44.4±2.8） mmHg;OSAHS组患儿与对照组中BMI、AHI、OAI、OAHI、ODI、TcpCO₂平均值及最高值、NREM TcpCO₂、REM TcpCO₂均高于对照组。OSAHS组患儿与对照组的平均SaO₂分别为（96.5±1.2）%、（97.6±0.9）%;最低SaO₂分别为（82.6±8.7）%、（92.2±2.9）%。OSAHS组患儿平均SaO₂、最低SaO₂均低于对照组。两组间BMI、AHI、OAI、OAHI、ODI、平均SaO₂、最低SaO₂、TcpCO₂平均值及最高值、NREM TcpCO₂、REM TcpCO₂比较,差异具有统计学意义（P均<0.05）。两组间TcpCO₂平均值和最高值均与BMI、OAHI、ODI无相关性。结论 TcpCO₂监测可以反映整夜CO₂动态变化,OSAHS患儿睡眠期CO₂有升高趋势,且REM睡眠CO₂水平较NREM睡眠亦有升高。CO₂水平不能根据PSG指数判断,需要进行客观检查进行评估。     

耳内镜下儿童中耳胆脂瘤的处理及疗效分析

目的 探讨耳内镜下经耳道径路切除儿童中耳胆脂瘤的手术适应证及临床疗效，为该类疾病的处理提供临床参考。方法 回顾性分析2017年9月-2020年10月上海交通大学医学院耳科学研究所耳内镜下经耳道径路处理的20例中耳胆脂瘤患儿临床资料，患者年龄3~14岁，平均年龄为（7±0.5）岁。根据术前影像学评估，病变范围均在中耳范围内，手术方案为耳内镜经耳道径路中耳切除胆脂瘤，对于听骨链破坏者同期行人工听骨链重建。分析患者术后的临床疗效。结果 结合病史、耳内镜检查、术前CT及术中发现，20例患者中18例（90%）为先天性胆脂瘤，其中Potsic II期3例，Potsic III期15例。；2例（10%）为后天继发性局限性中耳胆脂瘤，病变主要位于上鼓室。所有患者均顺利完成手术，术后3个月均干耳。19例（95%）患者无复发。患者均随访1年以上，平均随访（34±8）个月，1例（5%）III期先天性胆脂瘤复发，再次行耳内镜经耳道径路手术，随访26个月未见复发。术前患者平均气导听阈（37.3±9.3）dB，术后平均气导听阈（29.8±6.3）dB，术后听力明显改善（P<0.05）。结论 儿童中耳胆脂瘤以先天性胆脂瘤常见。对于术前评估为局限性的中耳胆脂瘤患儿（Potsic分期I-III期），耳内镜下经耳道径路手术可提供清晰广角视野，在少量骨质切除的情况下，能更加微创地处理胆脂瘤并进行听骨链重建，病变残留复发率少，手术效果佳，是值得提倡的治疗方案。     

耳内镜下颞肌筋膜四点固定法鼓膜修补术的临床疗效

目的 探讨采用耳内镜下颞肌筋膜"四点固定法"修补鼓膜穿孔，观察其临床疗效。方法 选取北京大学第三医院耳鼻咽喉科2020年12月-2021年6月因鼓膜紧张部前方或中央型大穿孔的患者19例随机分为两组。观察组10例（12耳），行耳内镜下"四点固定法"鼓膜修补术，注意下方鼓沟表面、锤骨柄内侧面、后方鼓沟与鼓索神经表面及前上部鼓环与鼓沟之间的裂隙四处关键点的固定；对照组9例（9耳），采用带软骨膜的耳屏软骨进行耳内镜下鼓膜修补术。所有患者术后3个月分别采用耳内镜及纯音听力检查进行客观评估，采用汉化版苏黎世慢性中耳炎量表（ZCMEI）对患者进行中耳炎症状、术后主观听力水平、社会心理影响及医疗资源进行生活质量评估。结果 观察组12耳术后2周穿孔基本愈合，鼓膜的形态更接近于正常浅凹型。穿孔修复成功率100%；对照组有1例前方遗留裂隙样穿孔，穿孔修复成功率88.9%。采用"四点固定法"，术后听力PTA（22.5±7.5）dB，ABG（10.0±8.2）dB，较术前的（35.1±12.6）dB和（21.7±8.2）dB有明显提高（P=0.009，P=0.011）。与对照组相比，观察组在0.25、0.5、1 kHz上术后气导较术前有显著性提高，而对照组仅在0.25 kHz处有显著性提高。生活质量评分两组在中耳炎症状、术后主观听力水平、社会心理影响及医疗资源占用四个维度的评分上无明显差异（P>0.05）。结论 耳内镜下采用颞肌筋膜"四点固定法"修补鼓膜，可以获得很高的修复成功率，且术后鼓膜形态更接近于自然的鼓膜形态，术后听力改善效果好，对于耳道宽敞、位于前方边缘的穿孔及对术后听力改善要求高的病例，可采用此方法进行鼓膜修补手术。     

儿童扁桃体与腺样体切除术后发热因素分析

目的 探讨儿童扁桃体和/或腺样体切除术后发热的相关因素,为手术治疗和护理提供参考.方法 收集408例因扁桃体和/或腺样体肥大引起阻塞性睡眠呼吸障碍(OSDB)行扁桃体和/或腺样体切除术患儿的相关资料,分析发热与术中出血量、性别、扁桃体腺样体大小、扁桃体炎史、鼻窦炎现状、手术时段、手术季节和手术部位的关系.结果 408例...     

耳内镜下内衬法与夹层法鼓膜修补术的疗效观察

目的 对耳内镜下内衬法和夹层法完成慢性化脓性中耳炎(CSOM)患者鼓膜修补术进行疗效观察.方法 回顾性分析2019年6月-2021年6月收治的经耳内镜内衬法和夹层法行鼓膜修补的CSOM患者的临床资料,共66例CSOM患者入组观察,随机分为两组由同一术者分别以内衬法(33例)和夹层法(33例)完成Ⅰ型鼓室成形术.比较其鼓...     

Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage: cost-benefit analysis of prolonged hospitalization

Abstract

Background: Prolonged hospitalization after tonsillectomy up to three nights was implemented to decrease mortality due to post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage.

Aims: To assess if extension of postoperative inpatient observation time from one to three nights results in potential benefits following tonsillectomy.

Subjects and methods: Patients who stayed only one night post-tonsillectomy between 1994 and 2006 (Group A) were compared to 1570 patients who stayed three nights postoperatively between 2008 and 2016 (Group B). Complication rate and expense of hospitalization were compared.

Results: Published data show that 114 (1.78%) out of 6400 patients in group A had post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage. In this patient group 75.4% (n?=?86) of all bleedings occurred after discharge from hospital. However, in group B post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage occurred in 70 (4.5%) and of those only 0.38% (n?=?6) developed bleeding episodes on the second or third postoperative day (POD). As observed in group A, the majority of hemorrhage (n?=?57; 81.4%) was observed after discharge. Cost analysis reveals a difference of approximately 6 million €for all 32 ENT departments per year in Austria.

Conclusions and significance: Extending postoperative hospitalization from one to three nights reveals no benefit after tonsillectomy. Comparison reveals substantial increase of costs for an extended 3 nights inpatient stay.     

The role of histology and other risk factors for post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage

Tonsillectomy is a frequently performed surgical procedure in children and adults. Postoperative bleeding is the most severe complication; however, the factors leading to postoperative haemorrhage are still discussed controversially. 1,522 tonsillectomies were retrospectively reviewed. Histopathological tonsil composition was correlated with the incidence of postoperative haemorrhage. Patient charts were analysed with regard to demographic data, characteristics of postoperative haemorrhage and indication for surgery. Patients with post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage were compared with uneventful cases. Histopathological signs of cryptic tonsillitis and actinomyces infection displayed a statistically significant correlation with the risk of postoperative haemorrhage (P = 0.018 and P = 0.02), but the odds ratio was low (1.9 and 2.0). 7.7% of all patients had postoperative bleeding and 3.5% had to return to theatre for haemostasis. The incidence of haemorrhages within hospitalization (5 postoperative days) was 45% and after discharge 55%, respectively. In 11% of cases bleeding occurred on the fourth or fifth day after surgery. While gender, season of surgery, abscess tonsillectomy “en chaud” in comparison with elective tonsillectomy were not associated with an increased rate of postoperative haemorrhage (P > 0.05), significant more postoperative haemorrhages were detected in the group of adults (P = 0.02). Despite significant correlation of cryptic tonsillitis and actinomyces infection with postoperative haemorrhage, the risk for postoperative bleeding is only slightly elevated and, therefore, the predictive value is low. Because a multifactorial aetiology of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage has to be assumed, large multicenter studies are necessary to evaluate the significance of different risk factors.     

Topical adrenaline in the control of intraoperative bleeding in adenoidectomy: a randomised,controlled trial

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of topical racemic adrenaline (RA) (Micronefrin^®; Bird Products, Palm Springs, CA, USA) in the control of intraoperative bleeding and the prevention of postoperative bleeding, laryngeal spasm and postoperative pain in adenoidectomy among children <6 years of age. Design: Prospective, randomised, blinded and placebo‐controlled trial. Setting: Kanta‐Hame Central Hospital, a district referral center in Finland. Patients: A consecutive sample of 93 children undergoing outpatient adenoidectomy. Intervention: Patients were randomised to receive topical gauze sponges soaked in either 1 : 500 RA or 0.9% sodium chloride (physiological saline) for 3 min after adenoidectomy. Main outcome measures: Amount of intraoperative bleeding (surgeons’ subjective estimate), need for additional packings, need for electrocautery, laryngeal spasm, postoperative bleeding and pain, duration of procedure and duration of patients’ stay in the operation room (OR). Results: Adrenaline significantly decreased surgeons’ subjective estimate of the amount of intraoperative bleeding (proportion of patients with significant decrease 67 versus 21%, P < 0.001), reduced the mean number of packings needed (0.6 versus 1.2, P < 0.001) and use of electrocautery (22 versus 45%, P = 0.015), and shortened the mean duration of the procedure (13 versus 18 min, P = 0.043) and the mean stay in the OR (31 versus 35 min, P = 0.058). The impact of adrenaline was even more pronounced among patients with extensive adenoids and/or profuse intraoperative bleeding. A slight elevation of heart rate was observed more often in the adrenaline group (P = 0.043). Conclusions: Use of topical adrenaline can be recommended in adenoidectomy among children. It helps control the intraoperative bleeding, reduces the use of electrocautery and shortens the durations of procedure and stay in the OR.     

Effect of intravascular dexamethasone injection after powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children

PurposeTo compare postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting, and bleeding between intravascular dexamethasone injection group and control group among children undergoing powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (PITA).Materials and methodsRetrospective review of medical records was performed for pediatric patients who underwent PITA from March 1, 2017, to February 28, 2021, at a tertiary referral medical center in South Korea. Postoperative pain and nausea were measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) from the postoperative day (POD) 0 to POD 6. The number of analgesics administered and the number of vomiting episodes were recorded in the same period. The repeatedly measured parameters were statistically analyzed between the dexamethasone group and control group.ResultsA total of 71 children with complete questionnaires including 44 boys and 27 girls were included, and the mean age was 7.49 ± 2.44 years. There were 33 patients in the dexamethasone group and 38 in the control group. Postoperative pain (p = 0.169) or nausea (p = 0.460) on the VAS showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Postoperative analgesics showed no difference between the groups (p = 0.398), and neither did postoperative vomiting (p = 0.270). In both groups, no child showed signs of postoperative bleeding.ConclusionsThis study indicates that the beneficial effects of intravascular dexamethasone administration in PITA may not be evident. This might be due to the superior outcome of the PITA technique compared to total extracapsular tonsillectomy. Therefore, otolaryngologists performing PITA may not necessarily need to administer dexamethasone in children before surgery.     

Impact of the mode of hospitalisation on the postoperative complication rate after dissection tonsillectomy in children

ObjectivesTo compare postoperative complication rates after dissection tonsillectomy in patients operated by outpatient surgery and patients operated by inpatient surgery.Population and methodsA prospective, single-centre, observational study was conducted over a period of 1 year. Dissection tonsillectomy was performed in 103 patients (mean age: 4 years) between September 2011 and September 2012. The following parameters were studied: bleeding or inflammatory complication rate, readmissions, unscheduled visits, factors contraindicating outpatient surgery, reasons for failure of outpatient surgery and influence of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting scores.ResultsTwo patient groups were composed: 54 patients were managed by outpatient surgery (Group O) and 49 patients were managed by inpatient surgery (Group I). The two main factors contraindicating outpatient surgery were age less than 3 years (40%) and preoperative suspicion of sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome (26%). Seven patients of Group O had to stay in hospital (outpatient failure rate of 13%). Postoperative complications were observed in 13% of patients of Group O versus 12.2% of patients of Group I with no statistically significant difference between the two groups. One patient in each group had to be readmitted; no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups (P = 0.41). PONV scores were very high (2) in all cases.ConclusionOutpatient tonsillectomy in well-selected patients is not associated with a higher postoperative complication rate than inpatient tonsillectomy. With systematic appropriate prophylaxis, Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting scores had no influence on the postoperative course.