The need for routine pre-operative coagulation screening tests (prothrombin time PT/partial thromboplastin time PTT) for healthy children undergoing elective tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy.

In some medical centers, the routine pre-operative evaluation of healthy children undergoing elective tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy (T and A) includes coagulation screening tests (PT, prothrombin Time; PTT, partial thromboplastin time; and INR, international normalized ratio). In this retrospective study, we determined whether there is a positive correlation between prolonged PT/PTT/INR tests in healthy children, with no prior medical history of coagulation problems, and bleeding during surgery and/or bleeding in the month following surgery. We reviewed the records of 416 elective T and A surgeries performed at the Soroka University Medical Center in Beer-Sheva, Israel, over the course of 1999. One hundred and twenty-one (29.1%) patients had preoperative prolonged PT values but only four (3.3%) of these patients experienced light bleeding during surgery. Seven (5.8%) of the 121 patients with prolonged PT tests experienced bleeding episodes during the 1st month subsequent to the surgery. Of the 65 (15.6%) patients who had prolonged pre-operative INR values, only three (4.6%) experienced light bleeding during surgery. Two (3.1%) patients with prolonged INR values experienced light bleeding during the 1st month subsequent to surgery. Sixty-one (14.7%) patients had prolonged first preoperative PTT values, only five of whom (8.2%) experienced light bleeding during surgery. Two (3.3%) of the 61 with prolonged PTT values experienced light bleeding during the 1st month subsequent to surgery. We therefore concluded that pre-operative coagulation screening tests provide low sensitivity and low bleeding predictive value. As such, routine coagulation tests before T &A are not indicated unless a medical history of bleeding tendency is suspected.     

An assessment of preoperative coagulation screening for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

Preoperative coagulation studies are commonly employed in order to try to identify the 2-4% of all patients undergoing tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy surgery who experience hemorrhagic complications. In an atmosphere of increasing cost consciousness, evaluation of the efficacy of screening tests is warranted. The records of 994 out of 1050 patients consecutively scheduled for tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy or T&A over a 2.5-year period were retrospectively reviewed in order to determine the usefulness of partial thromboplastin (PTT) and prothrombin time (PT) screening in predicting surgical and postsurgical bleeding. For patients with no history or clinical signs indicating possible bleeding disorder, preoperative PT and PTT failed to predict bleeding as an outcome. Also no patients were identified in this series to have previously undiagnosed coagulopathies on the basis of screening PT/PTT. The purpose of any screening test is to identify disease early enough for therapeutic intervention to be effective. Although preoperative PT/PTT will occasionally identify an unsuspected von Willebrand's or other coagulopathy, the prevalence of bleeding disorders in patients with negative history and examination is low enough that PT/PTT has essentially a zero predictive value for surgical bleeding. Screening PT/PTT should therefore be reserved for patients with known or suspected coagulopathies.     

Risiko von Blutungen nach Adenotomie und Tonsillektomie

Background

Hemorrhage after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy remains a serious complication. Therefore, routine preoperative coagulation screening, including activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT) and platelet count (PLC), are regularly performed, also for medicolegal reasons. In the recently published statement of the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery the need for routine preoperative coagulation screening is discussed, but so far no standardized procedure had been established. According to this statement – at least for children – routine preoperative coagulation screening is not mandatory as long as the thorough medical history provides no evidence for a coagulation disorder (http://www.hno.org/kollegen/gerinnung_te_ae.html). The present study was undertaken to determine the occurrence of postoperative hemorrhage on the one hand, and the incidence of abnormal preoperative routine coagulation parameters or pathological anamnesis findings on the other.

Patients and Methods

In 688 patients, a standardized clinical history was obtained using a questionnaire. Coagulation screening included aPTT, PT, and PLC was also carried out. Bleeding complications were then correlated with anamnesis features and abnormalities in coagulation screening.

Results

In 39 (5.7%) of the 688 patients we found abnormal coagulation values, which were confirmed in repeated analyses. In six of these a detailed analysis revealed occult coagulation disorders requiring correction only in the case of bleeding complications who were previously unknown. Fifteen patients were already known to have a coagulation disorder, and the anamnesis identified no additional patient at risk. Thus, 21 patients with coagulation disorders requiring correction in the case of a bleeding complication underwent surgery. However, only eight (38%) of these showed abnormal routine coagulation parameters. Surgical treatment of postoperative hemorrhage was required in 12 patients, all of whom had normal values for aPTT, PT and PLC.

Conclusion

The frequently performed determination of routine coagulation parameters (aPTT, PT, PLC) is not able to reliably identify relevant coagulation disorders or to predict the risk for postoperative hemorrhagic complications after adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy.     

Perioperative adenotonsillectomy management in children: current practices

OBJECTIVE: To determine the current practices of preoperative evaluation, surgical techniques, and postoperative treatment of pediatric adenotonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-one-item survey measuring the frequency of different evaluations, procedures, and treatments performed, including selected case scenarios, with all items scored on a five-point ordinal scale ranking frequency. METHODS: The entire membership of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO) and active fellows and members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) residing in New York state were anonymously surveyed through mail-in questionnaires. RESULTS: History alone was the most frequent modality for diagnosing both adenoid enlargement and obstructive sleep apnea. The most common preoperative laboratory test ordered before an adenotonsillectomy is a complete blood cell count; ASPO members ordered fewer preoperative laboratory tests than AAO-HNS members. Unipolar cautery is the most frequently used tonsillectomy technique, and curettage followed by cautery is the most popular adenoidectomy technique. Steroids are the most common intraoperative medication administered during an adenotonsillectomy, and office visits remain the most frequently used methods of assessing adenotonsillectomy patients postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are statistically significant trends uncovered by the survey, the results reflect a lack of consensus regarding adenotonsillectomy management. Further randomized controlled trials or large-scale outcomes projects are much needed to evaluate critically the current practices of pediatric adenotonsillectomies. Additional efforts may also be required to use the information from these studies in effecting changes in actual practice patterns, moving us toward a more evidence-based paradigm of treating pediatric adenotonsillar disease.     

Significance of blood tests prior to adenoidectomy

BACKGROUND: H?rmann recently published a joint statement of the German Societies of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck surgery, of pediatrics and of anesthesiology regarding the necessity of coagulation tests prior to adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy in children. According to many studies, these societies agreed that coagulation tests should be performed only in children with an unusual bleeding history. We analyzed our adenoidectomy-database to investigate the need for preoperative blood tests to prevent bleeding events during and following an adenoidectomy. METHODS AND PATIENTS: Data of 1137 children were collected, undergoing adenoidectomy during a period of 18 months (2005/2006) at the Bochum department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, retrospectively. Information on sex, age, hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, INR, thromboplastin time and prothrombin time and clinical bleeding history were collected. RESULTS: 3 % of the laboratory investigations showed pathological parameters. Only 0.12 % of the tests resulted in the cancellation of the operation (7 cases). The reasons for cancellation were: platelet count less than 100 000/microl (3 patients), anemia (Hb < 10 g/dl) (3 patients) and prolongated thromboplastin time (1 patient). 3 of these 7 patients were operated later on. Postoperative hemorrhage was noticed in 11 patients following adenoidectomy. In these 11 patients with bleeding complications all laboratory parameters were found to be normal. CONCLUSIONS: In accordance with the current literature our data show that bleeding after adenoidectomy is a rare complication. In contrast to many other studies, we also report weak bleedings from the epipharynx. Blood tests were routinely performed prior to every operation with little benefit. Only 4 patients were definitely not scheduled for surgery as a consequence of the preoperative blood test. Patients with bleeding complications were not suspicious regarding laboratory workup. We therefore conclude that blood tests prior to adenoidectomy have no relevance for the course of the operation and postoperative bleeding event. Blood tests should only be performed on patients with an unusual bleeding history, family bleeding history or indications for anemia. The documentation of a standardized bleeding history prior to surgery is strongly recommended.     

Indications for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: consensus document by the Spanish Society of ORL and the Spanish Society of Pediatrics

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are probably the commonest surgeries performed in the ENT field as well as the most controversial ones. There are very few consensus documents available for these two surgeries. In 1997 a document written by the two mentioned Societies was published, in order to update such document regarding tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy procedures we have met this year representatives from both scientific societies and a new document has been elaborated. We describe the diagnostic criteria of pharyngo-tonsillitis and adenoiditis as well as of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, with the aim of a better comprehension of these processes when a decision needs to be made regarding surgery. Indications and contraindications of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are here described.     

Post-tonsillectomy bleeding: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: To reconcile conflicting reports and opinions of the value of preoperative coagulation studies for patients undergoing tonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analysis: Articles were identified by MEDLINE search, references from review articles, textbook chapter, and retrieved reports. Independent observers selected prospective trials of patients undergoing tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy. Retrospective studies meeting other inclusion and exclusion criteria were included for sensitivity analyses of results. METHODS: Data were abstracted from studies for an end point of bleeding with normal and abnormal coagulation tests. Four prospective studies met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. These four studies were used in the data synthesis. An additional eight retrospective studies met all other criteria and were used in the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Pooled analysis of 3384 patients revealed a rate of 3.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5%-4.1%) for post-tonsillectomy bleeding in patients with normal coagulation studies. A rate of 8.7% (95% CI, 1.5%-15.9%) was obtained for bleeding in patients with abnormal coagulation studies. No significant rate difference in post-tonsillectomy bleeding was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: There is no difference in the rate of post-tonsillectomy bleeding in patients with abnormal coagulation studies as compared with patients with normal coagulation studies obtained preoperatively.     

Incidence and clinical background of posttonsillectomy bleeding related blood transfusion over 12 years

Economies in National Health Systems forces ENT surgeons to review their indications for outpatient tonsillectomy. Therefore, it is important to preoperatively identify special risk groups who frequently have extensive posttonsillectomy bleeding with the need of a blood transfusion. Aim of this study was to estimate the incidence for posttonsillectomy bleeding related blood transfusion, to identify risk factors associated with the need for blood transfusion and to release guidelines for posttonsillectomy bleeding of high risk patients. A retrospective study was done on the medical history of 1720 patients who underwent tonsillectomy for chronic tonsillitis between 1982-1993 in the ENT Department at the University of Kiel. The average transfusion rate was 0.52%. End Stage Renal Disease and hypertension combined with a preoperatively decreased Hb and Hct were the risk factors identified leading to a transfusion. These patients should not get a tonsillectomy as an outpatient procedure. The Hb, Hct, PT, PTT, blood type and crossmatch should be drawn and assessed prior to tonsillectomy. We recommend immediate treatment of secondary hemorrhage in those high risk patients under general anesthesia to avoid severe complications.     

Pediatric adenoidectomy: what is the effect of obstructive symptoms on the likelihood of future surgery?

OBJECTIVE: Determine if pediatric patients undergoing adenoidectomy for obstruction have an increased likelihood of undergoing eventual tonsillectomy and/or second adenoidectomy over extended follow-up. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study within the ambulatory surgery component of a tertiary children's hospital. Exclusion criteria consisted of the presence of significant co-morbid conditions (obesity, craniofacial syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.) and less than 1 year of post-adenoidectomy follow-up. The study population included 100 children (mean age=3.9 years, range 0.9-15 years) randomly selected from a financial billing database undergoing adenoidectomy either with pre-operative obstructive symptoms (OB n=52) or without pre-operative obstructive symptoms (NOB n=48) with a minimum of 1 year of retrospective follow-up. Electronic records were searched for subsequent surgery (tonsillectomy and/or revision adenoidectomy). RESULTS: Overall, 29 of 100 children (29%) underwent subsequent surgery (tonsillectomy and/or revision adenoidectomy) over an average of 3.46 years (range 1.0-6.59 years) retrospective follow-up. Children in the OB group were three times more likely (age, sex adjusted odds ratio=3.03, 95% confidence interval =1.18-7.78 p=0.021) than children in the NOB group to require tonsillectomy or second adenoidectomy. Age less than 2 years at time of initial adenoidectomy also suggested an increased likelihood of subsequent surgery. CONCLUSION: Children undergoing adenoidectomy with obstructive symptoms are more likely to require eventual tonsillectomy and/or second adenoidectomy than those undergoing adenoidectomy without obstruction. However, the low absolute likelihood of future surgery precludes a generalized recommendation for tonsillectomy in these children.     

Radiofrequency tonsil reduction: safety,morbidity, and efficacy

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety, morbidity, and efficacy of radiofrequency tissue volume reduction of tonsils using two different surgical techniques and to compare these two techniques with each other and with classic tonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: A nonrandomized retrospective review of tonsil reductions was made between 2000 and 2002 using in vivo studies associated with tonsil reduction and tonsillectomy performed either in the hospital operating room or in the outpatient treatment area. METHODS: We studied 150 patients and divided them into three main groups based on surgical technique. Group A consisted of 50 consecutive patients who underwent tonsil "ablation," Group B contained another 50 consecutive individuals who received tonsil "coblation," and Group C consisted of 50 patients who underwent classic tonsillectomy (cold dissection). Each group consisted of two subcategories of children (age range, 1-12 y) and adults (age range, 12-60 y) with chronic tonsillar hypertrophy. Most of the pediatric patients underwent adenoidectomy during the same surgical procedure. Indications for tonsillectomy were those listed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. A retrospective chart review was used to assess procedures, safety, morbidity, and efficacy of tonsil reduction and tonsillectomy. Four specific end points of morbidity were investigated: pain, return to normal diet, return to normal activity, and use of pain medication. Efficacy of tonsillectomy was determined by the clinical observation of the remaining tonsillar tissue and compared with pretreatment photographs of the tonsils. RESULTS: There were no complications in any of the groups. Efficacy was assessed based on the mean tonsil reduction and was found to be 100% for tonsillectomy, 86% for the tonsil coblation technique, but only 53.6% for the ablation technique. Morbidity was minimal in groups A and B and significantly greater in Group C. The number of pain days, narcotic-use days, and days before return to normal diet and activity were greatly reduced in groups A and B when compared with classic tonsillectomy (group C). Pain levels on day 1 were less than 3 (on a scale of 1-10) in groups A and B. The number of pain days and narcotic-use days was less than 4 days in groups A and B. Similarly, most patients returned to solid diet and normal activity by day 4. Pain levels, number of narcotic-use days, and number of days to return to normal diet and activity were significantly higher for classic tonsillectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Tonsil coblation has distinct advantages when compared with tonsil ablation and standard tonsillectomy. Tonsil coblation resulted in greater than 86% elimination of tonsillar tissue in both children and adults. In most patients, pain levels were minimal and limited to the first 48 hours after surgery. Return to normal diet and activity was much earlier in the coblation group versus classic tonsillectomy.     

儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征治疗方法选择及疗效观察

目的 探讨儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征（OSAHS）的治疗方法。方法 对140例OSAHS患儿分别采用不同的手术治疗：①双侧扁桃体加腺样体切除术90例。②单侧扁桃体加腺样体切除术10例。③单纯腺样体切除术24例。④双下鼻甲及腺样体低温等离子消融术16例，并分析其疗效。结果 140例患儿术后症状消失者114例，症状明显好转20例。有效率95．7％。症状复发6例，其中单侧扁桃体切除加腺样体切除术3例，传统腺样体刮除后残留3例。6例复发者均再次手术后症状消失。术后3～6个月，对68例患儿复查AHI、夜间低氧血症，与术前比较均有明显改善（P〈0．05）。结论 单侧扁桃体切除和单纯腺样体切除术因咽腔扩大不够，疗效欠理想。手术切除肥大腺样体和双侧扁桃体是治疗儿童OSAHS的有效方法。腺样体切除术在直视下进行更为安全可靠。     

Histologie nach Adeno-Tonsillektomie?

Background

It is more and more doubted that adenoids or tonsils have to be examined histologically in pediatric cases, in which history and clinical signs and symptoms are conclusive for chronic inflammation or hyperplasia. It is unknown whether there is any conformity about this question in Germany.

Method

The heads of all clinical departments of otorhinolaryngology (n=149) and a similar number of ENT specialists from the Berufsverband Deutscher HNO-Ärzte (n=150) were surveyed by a simple questionnaire. They were asked if they would routinely send resected tissue for histopathological examination in the case of a child, up to 10 years old, presenting with a history and a status of chronic inflammation or hyperplasia and undergoing adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy. Furthermore they were asked whether they remembered any unusual or surprising report in this group of patients.

Results

Feedback was 79%. All tissue was sent for examination by 59% of the colleagues answering this evaluation; palatine tonsils only were sent for examination by 14%, and 27% of the physicians did not send any tissue for histological work-up. During their professional career 17% of the responding ENT specialists had received a surprising result from the histopathological examination.

Conclusion

We do not have any consensus practiced in Germany concerning the necessity to send tissue for histopathological examination following adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy in children. It seems helpful to seek such consensus of opinion for medicolegal and socioeconomic reasons.     

Rates and risk factors for subsequent tonsillectomy after prior adenoidectomy: a regression analysis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of adenoidectomy without concurrent tonsillectomy in the treatment of upper airway obstruction, by determining rates and risk factors for subsequent tonsillectomy. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study with nested case-control study. Data were evaluated using Kaplan-Meyer curves with Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, as well as contingency table and logistic regression analysis. SETTING: Tertiary care pediatric hospital with satellite clinics and surgical centers. PATIENTS: A total of 2462 patients aged 5 months to 18 years undergoing adenoidectomy without concurrent tonsillectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A 5-year database was searched for birth dates, dates of initial surgery, and dates of subsequent tonsillectomy (if performed) or latest follow-up. Cases (tonsillectomies) were then matched 1:1 by age with controls (no subsequent tonsillectomy). Medical charts were reviewed to identify potential predisposing factors, including sex, tonsil size, and adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy indication. RESULTS: Within 5.4 years, 108 patients underwent subsequent tonsillectomy. The relative risk of subsequent tonsillectomy decreases by 0.83 (95% confidence interval, 0.78-0.88) for each increasing year of age at adenoidectomy. The odds of undergoing a future tonsillectomy significantly increase with increasing tonsil size at the time of adenoidectomy. There was a trend toward doubling the risk of subsequent tonsillectomy when the adenoids were removed for upper airway obstruction (including obstructive sleep apnea) compared with other indications (P = .06). CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the rates and risk factors for subsequent tonsillectomy will allow more informed counseling of parents regarding whether tonsillectomy should be performed or deferred at the time of an indicated adenoidectomy.     

Bacteremia during tonsillectomy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate bacteremia in patients who underwent tonsillectomy with a dissection method due to chronic tonsillitis, which may lead to dramatic results in patients that have a cardiovascular infection risk. In this study, it was explored whether the tonsil surface and the tonsil tissue interior microorganisms are different or not, and whether these microorganisms carry bacteremia development risk. METHODS: Forty patients were enrolled in the study in ENT Clinic, Firat University. A bacteriological research was performed on patients with no treatment with antibiotics for a month before the operation. Tonsil surface and deep tissue cultures were performed, and venous blood samples were taken for cultures before and after the operation. RESULTS: Surface and deep tissue cultures of tonsils of the cases represented a different result in 27.5% of the patients. No reproduction was observed regarding the blood cultures taken before tonsillectomy. Bacteremia was found in blood samples of ten patients (25%) taken immediately after tonsillectomy. CONCLUSION: Hence, it has been concluded that different microorganisms may be present among the tonsil surface and tonsil deep tissue cultures and that bacteremia may develop after tonsillectomy. Therefore, to prevent the possible dramatic outcomes after tonsillectomy the required measures during the preoperative period should be taken into consideration, especially in patients that have chronic tonsillitis with cardiovascular disease.     

儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征的诊治

目的探讨儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome，OSAHS)的诊断和治疗方法。方法回顾性分析经鼻咽侧位X线摄片、纤维鼻咽镜检查及多道睡眠监测(polysomnography，PSG)确诊为OSAHS的285例患儿的临床症状和体征的特点。睡眠呼吸低通气指数(apnea hyponea index，AHI)≥5次／h，伴随血氧饱和度降低0．03以上的患儿诊断为OSAHS。对其中腺样体、扁桃体肥大的患儿255例进行了手术治疗，9例使用了持续正压通气治疗(continuous positive airway pressure，CPAP)，评价其疗效。结果OSAHS患儿的主要症状是入睡打鼾、张口呼吸、呼吸暂停、听力下降。285例患儿中腺样体和(或)扁桃体肥大281例。手术治疗255例，其中205例行腺样体和扁桃体切除术，47例行腺样体切除术，3例行单纯扁桃体切除术。术后248例患儿临床症状明显缓解，占97．2％。术后1—3个月内，对105例患儿复查PSG：AHI、夜间血氧饱和度低于0．90的时间所占睡眠时间的百分比、最长呼吸暂停时间较术前有明显改善。9例使用CPAP治疗，效果均良好，其中7例为腺样体、扁桃体手术前、后的患儿，2例为肥胖低通气息儿。结论儿童OSAHS有其自身特点，PSG是诊断的依据，腺样体和扁桃体切除手术是主要的治疗手段，CPAP可以作为OSAHS重症患儿术前、术后的治疗方法。     

儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征手术疗效分析

目的探讨儿童阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome,OSAHS)手术成功和失败的原因,以提高手术预评估水平,提高手术疗效。方法将我院2003年3月～2006年3月手术治疗的112例临床资料完整的OSAHS患儿进行疗效分析。其中,扁桃体加腺样体切除56例;单纯扁桃体切除41例,包括单侧扁桃体切除2例;单纯腺样体切除15例。结果治愈102例(91.1%),包括单侧扁桃体切除后对侧扁桃体代偿增生肥大者2例,再次行对侧扁桃体切除后治愈;显效9例(8.0%),包括肥胖4例,咽淋巴增生1例,鼻部阻塞4例;好转1例(0.9%),为肥胖伴下颌骨后缩者;无效0例。结论儿童OSAHS大多手术疗效较好,少数肥胖、鼻部阻塞、咽淋巴环增生及下颌后缩者疗效欠佳。在腺样体、扁桃体手术前同时应考虑解除其他部位阻塞或无创通气治疗,方可进一步提高手术疗效。对肥胖患儿还应加以减肥治疗。     

Pathologic evaluation of routine tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy specimens in the pediatric population: is it really necessary?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the necessity of histopathologic examination for routine tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy in terms of unexpected malignancy by evaluating a large group of pediatric patients retrospectively with review of the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients under the age of 19 who underwent tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy between January 1990 and January 2005 was carried out. The records were analyzed concerning each patient's age, sex, indication for surgery, type of surgical procedure and the result of histopathologic examination of the specimen. The patients operated for chronic or recurrent infections and obstructive hypertrophy were included in the study. Moreover, the English literature was searched in Medline for articles published between 1949 and March 2005 and the studies dealing with pathologic analysis of tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy specimens were reviewed. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 2826. After excluding 83 patients because of insufficient data, 2743 patients with an age distribution from 1 to 18 years (mean: 7.53) were reviewed. There were 1534 males (56%) and 1209 females (44%). Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy were performed together on 1930 patients (70%) while tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy alone were performed on 287 (10%) and 526 (20%) patients, respectively. Evaluation of the pathology reports revealed no malignancies. Review of the literature identified 14 articles and 5 of them included only pediatric patients. The rate of unexpected malignancies observed in these pediatric series varied between 0 and 0.18%. CONCLUSION: After being evaluated by an experienced otolaryngologist, pathologic evaluation of all specimens may not be necessary if a child undergoing routine tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy is not found to have certain preoperative risk factors.     

Should obtaining a preoperative audiogram before tympanostomy tube placement be used as a quality metric? A survey of pediatric otolaryngologists

IntroductionObtaining a preoperative audiogram prior to tympanostomy tube placement is recommended by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery clinical practice guideline (CPG): Tympanostomy tubes in Children, and this process measure is also used as a quality metric by payers. However, whether audiograms should be mandated in cases of tube placement for both chronic otitis media with effusion (COME) and recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) is controversial. The objective of this study is to determine reports of practice patterns of pediatric otolaryngologists regarding obtaining audiograms before and after tympanostomy tube placement and opinions regarding utility of CPGs and use of this process measure as a quality metric.MethodsA 16-question cross-sectional survey of American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO) members was conducted. Per ASPO policy, no repeated requests or other enhanced response techniques were permitted. Independent t-tests for proportions were used to compare responses.Results127 pediatric otolaryngologists completed the survey (response rate 26.9%). Nearly 70% of respondents reported being in practice for >10 years. 74% of respondents reported obtaining preoperative audiograms “always” or “most of the time” for COME, vs. 56.7% for RAOM (p < 0.0001). 76% agreed that obtaining a preoperative audiogram was representative of high quality for COME, vs. 52% for RAOM (p < 0.0001). 12% of respondents “completely agreed” that compliance with all aspects of CPGs represented high quality, while 68.8% responded that they somewhat agreed.ConclusionThere is no consensus among pediatric otolaryngologists regarding the necessity of a preoperative audiogram in tympanostomy tube placement, especially for RAOM. Further evidence demonstrating the benefit of preoperative audiogram obtainment should be developed prior to inclusion as a guideline recommendation and as a quality metric.     

Routine histologic examination is unnecessary for tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the current practice and incurred cost of histologic examination of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy specimens is warranted. STUDY DESIGN: Review article based on medical literature. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective PubMed review of all pertinent literature regarding tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and related surgical pathology was conducted. References of the articles obtained were reviewed for additional sources. RESULTS: Twenty studies report 54,901 patients and found 54 malignancies (0.087% prevalence). Of these, 48 (88% of the patients) had suspicious features such as tonsillar asymmetry, cervical lymphadenopathy, or abnormal tonsil appearance, preoperatively. The remaining six patients without any suspicious features (better representing true occult malignancy) were 0.011% of the total cases. CONCLUSION: Submission of tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or both specimens is warranted only when patients demonstrate findings associated with malignancy: tonsillar asymmetry, history of cancer, neck mass, tonsil firmness or lesion, weight loss, and constitutional symptoms.     

Impact of clinical practice guidelines on clinicians' behaviour: tonsillectomy in children

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the extent to which developing and implementing clinical practice guidelines for listing children for tonsillectomy (with or without adenoidectomy) influenced the behaviour of participating ENT surgeons. METHOD: A before and after study in which the intervention (the development and dissemination of local practice guidelines) was introduced sequentially into different hospitals and surgical practice. The study was conducted in four ear, nose, and throat surgical services in the North of England, with 16 consultant ENT surgeons and their junior staff on 1190 children aged 0 to 14 years who were judged, prior to consultation with an ENT surgeon, to have been referred for throat-related problems for which tonsillectomy was one possible treatment option were included in the study. Decision reached by surgeons and proportion of decisions that complied with new guidelines. RESULTS: Of the clinical decisions to list children for tonsillectomy taken before introduction of locally agreed guidelines, 73% (486/660) conformed to the criteria in the subsequent guidelines, 15% (97/660) did not, and in 12% (77/660), it was impossible to judge. After the intervention, the corresponding figures were 73% (386/530), 14% (73/53), and 13% (71/530), respectively. When decisions were taken to break the guidelines, this was more often to list for tonsillectomy when it was not indicated--83% (141/170)--than to withhold tonsillectomy when it was indicated--17% (29/170). The aspects of guidelines that were breached in decisions to carry out tonsillectomy were: the age of the child was younger than the guidelines recommended--54% (75/141); there had been fever attacks of tonsillitis than the guidelines recommended--22% (32/141); and there were "significant" symptoms not included in the guidelines--20% (29/141). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of strong evidence to the contrary, local guidelines were formulated at a level that the majority of surgeons already attained. Guideline development and implementation, therefore, had very little impact on clinical practice. The process of local formulation of guidelines was not sufficient to achieve change toward evidence-based practice; clinical preference proved to be quite intractable. There is a need to enhance the ability of clinicians in the assessment and interpretation of research evidence. Previous work has emphasized the need to explore factors that influence clinical behaviour toward evidence-based practice. Our study suggests the need for more research into why clinicians continue to follow clinical preference even when invited to base agreed local clinical policies on evidence.