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

Scott E Brietzke1, Margaret Kenna, Eliot S Katz

  • 1Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Washington, DC 20307, USA. sebrietzke@msn.com

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|May 3, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Children with obstructive symptoms undergoing adenoidectomy are more likely to need a tonsillectomy or repeat adenoidectomy later. However, the overall chance of needing further surgery is low.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Pediatric Surgery

Background:

  • Adenoidectomy is a common procedure in children.
  • Indications for adenoidectomy include obstructive symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if pediatric patients undergoing adenoidectomy for obstruction are more likely to require subsequent tonsillectomy and/or revision adenoidectomy.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of 100 children undergoing adenoidectomy.
  • Children were divided into groups with (OB) and without (NOB) pre-operative obstructive symptoms.
  • Follow-up averaged 3.46 years to assess for subsequent surgeries.

Main Results:

  • 29% of children required subsequent surgery (tonsillectomy and/or revision adenoidectomy).
  • Children in the OB group were three times more likely to require subsequent surgery compared to the NOB group.
  • Younger age at initial adenoidectomy (<2 years) was also associated with increased likelihood of further surgery.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric adenoidectomy for obstructive symptoms increases the risk of needing future tonsillectomy or revision adenoidectomy.
  • The absolute likelihood of requiring subsequent surgery is low, not supporting a routine recommendation for tonsillectomy in all cases.
Abstract

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