Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T04:07:15.593Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Assessment of clinical improvement and quality of life before and after tonsillectomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2008

D Akgun*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Lister Hospital, Stevenage, UK
F K Seymour
Affiliation:
SpR in ENT Department of the Surgical Department, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK
A Qayyum
Affiliation:
SpR in ENT Department, Luton, UK
R Crystal
Affiliation:
Studying Bachelor of Business in London University, UK
A Frosh
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Lister Hospital, Stevenage, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Dilek Akgun, c/o Mr Frosh's Secretary, ENT Department, Lister Hospital, Corey's Mill Lane, Stevenage SG1 4AB, UK. Fax: +44 1438781218 E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Objective:

To assess clinical improvement and quality of life measures in patients who had undergone tonsillectomy for recurrent acute and chronic tonsillitis between March 2004 and March 2005.

Method:

A retrospective survey of all adults and children who had undergone tonsillectomy for recurrent acute and chronic tonsillitis. Patients were asked to compare their symptoms for the 12-month period before and after tonsillectomy.

Results:

A review of 100 patients revealed that, following tonsillectomy: their days off work (or school) due to sore throat reduced by 95.3 per cent (from a mean of 27.6 to 1.3 days; confidence intervals 89.7 and 99.6 per cent); their visits to their general practitioner due to sore throat reduced by 95.6 per cent (from a mean of 7.9 to 0.4 visits; confidence intervals 93.8 and 95.1 per cent); and more than 90 per cent reported improved feelings of well-being, general health and energy.

Conclusion:

We conclude that tonsillectomy is of benefit for patients with recurrent acute and chronic tonsillitis. Tonsillectomy significantly reduced general practitioner attendances and resulted in an improved feeling of health and well-being.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Presented as poster at the ENT UK meeting, 7 September 2006, Royal College of Surgeons, London.

References

2Tauman, R, Gulliver, TE, Krishna, J, Montgomery-Downs, HE. Persistence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome after adenotonsillectomy in children. J Pediatr 2006;149:803–8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3Fujikawa, S, Hanawa, Y, Ito, H, Ohkuni, M, Todome, Y, Ohkuni, H. Streptococcal antibody as an indicator of tonsillectomy. Acta Otolaryng Suppl 1988;454:286–91CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Amelia Drake, Michel M Carr. Tonsillectomy. http://www.emedicine.com [2 october 2007]Google Scholar
5Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. Management of sore throat and indications for tonsillectomy. Scottish Inercollegiate Guidelines Network clinical guideline 34. 1999. http://www.sign.ac.uk [29 August 2007]. http://www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/fulltext/34/section6.html, SIGN 2001–2005 [5 January 2001]Google Scholar
6Mui, S, Rasgon, BM, Hilsinger, RL Jr. Efficacy of tonsillectomy for recurrent throat infection in adults. Laryngoscope 1998;108:1325–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Paradise, JL, Bluestone, CD, Bachman, RZ, Colborrn, DK. Efficacy of tonsillectomy for recurrent throat infection in severely affected children. Results of parallel randomized and non-randomized clinical trials. N Engl J Med 1984;310:674–83CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Wolfensberger, M, Haury, J, Linder, T. Parent satisfaction 1 year after adenotonsillectomy of their children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2000;56:199205Google Scholar
9Bhattacharyya, N, Kepnes, LJ, Shapiro, J. Efficacy and quality-of-life impact of adult tonsillectomy. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001;127:1347–50Google Scholar
10Bhattacharyya, N, Kepnes, LJ. Economic benefits of tonsillectomy in adults with chronic tonsillitis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2002;111:983–8Google Scholar
11van Staaij, BK, van den Akker, EH, van der Heijden, . Adenotonsillectomy for upper respiratory infections; evidence based? Arch Dis Child 2005;90:1925CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed