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[Pediatric day surgery of the respiratory tract--indications and prioritization]
K J Kvaerner1, M C Moen, O H Haugeto
1Ore-nese-halsavdelingen Ullevål sykehus, Oslo. k.j.kvarner@ioks.uio.no
Insights
Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeries are common, with most children experiencing symptoms for a year or less before procedures like tonsillectomy or ventilation tube insertion.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Surgical Procedures in Children
- Healthcare Utilization
Context:
- Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) procedures represent the most frequent surgeries performed on children.
- Common ENT surgeries include adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, myringotomy, and ventilation tube insertion.
- Understanding the disease profile and referral patterns is crucial for optimizing outpatient otolaryngologic surgery.
Purpose:
- To investigate the disease profile and referral/treatment routines in pediatric outpatient otolaryngologic surgery.
- To analyze the duration of illness prior to surgery for common pediatric ENT conditions.
- To examine demographic factors and referral sources for children undergoing ENT surgery.
Summary:
- Data from 178 children undergoing ENT surgery revealed a median referral-to-surgery time of under four months.
- Most pediatric patients had symptoms for 12 months or less, with obstructive symptoms noted in 18%.
- Referrals predominantly came from otolaryngology or pediatric specialists, with surgery more frequent in males aged 4.2 years median.
Impact:
- Provides insights into the management of common childhood ENT conditions.
- Highlights the efficiency of referral pathways and surgical scheduling in pediatric otolaryngology.
- Informs healthcare providers about typical disease duration and demographic trends in pediatric ENT surgery.
Abstract:
Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) procedures are the most common types of surgery in children and include adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, myringotomy, ventilation tube insertion or combinations of these. In order to study disease profile and routines for referral and treatment in outpatient otolaryngologic surgery, data were collected from 178 children operated consecutively during a six-week period in 1998. Median time from referral to surgery was less than four months. The majority of children operated for recurrent acute otitis media, tonsillitis or upper respiratory infections had suffered from the disease for 12 months or less. Obstructive symptoms were registered in 18% of these children. Most patients were referred to the hospital by specialists in otolaryngology or paediatric medicine. Surgery was more common in male than female-children, and median age at the time of surgery was 4.2 years. There was an equal distribution of middle ear and pharyngeal surgery.