Antibiotic use in post-adenotonsillectomy morbidity: a randomized prospective study

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Pediatric Surgery
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are common procedures, especially in children.
• Postoperative recovery can involve pain, nausea, and delayed return to normal activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of a 7-day course of amoxicillin on recovery after tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy.
• To compare outcomes in patients receiving amoxicillin plus analgesics versus analgesics alone.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, randomized, controlled study involving 120 pediatric patients.
• Patients received either 7 days of amoxicillin with pain relief or pain relief alone post-surgery.
• Outcomes assessed included pain, oral intake, nausea, vomiting, fever, and return to daily activities within the first postoperative week.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant difference in pain levels was observed only on the fourth postoperative day in favor of the antibiotic group.
• No significant differences were found between the groups regarding oral intake, nausea, vomiting, fever, or return to daily activities.

Conclusions:

• A 7-day postoperative course of amoxicillin does not appear to improve patient recovery after tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy.
• The findings suggest that routine antibiotic use in the postoperative period may not be beneficial for typical recovery metrics.