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Daycare tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy at the British Columbia Children's Hospital

K Riding1, B Laird, G O'Connor

  • 1Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Insights

Daycare tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are safe for children. British Columbia Children

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Otolaryngology
  • Outpatient Surgery
  • Healthcare Management

Background:

  • Tonsillectomy (T) and adenoidectomy (A) are commonly performed pediatric surgical procedures.
  • Daycare or outpatient surgery offers potential benefits for selected pediatric patients undergoing T or T & A.
  • Establishing the safety and efficacy of daycare T & A procedures is crucial for healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and feasibility of implementing daycare tonsillectomy (T) and adenoidectomy (A) procedures at British Columbia Children's Hospital (B.C.C.H.).
  • To outline the systematic approach adopted by B.C.C.H. to ensure the safe execution of outpatient T & A.
  • To transition daycare T & A from pilot projects to routine surgical practice.

Main Methods:

  • Initiation of a pilot project for daycare adenoidectomies (A) in 1984, followed by a second pilot for daycare tonsillectomies (T) or tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy (T & A) in 1988.
  • Development and implementation of strict criteria for patient selection, pre-operative preparation, anesthesia, post-anesthetic recovery (PAR), Daycare Unit (DCU) nursing care, and discharge protocols.
  • Systematic collection and analysis of follow-up information to assess patient outcomes and procedural safety.

Main Results:

  • The initial pilot project for daycare adenoidectomies proved successful, leading to broader adoption.
  • The subsequent pilot for daycare tonsillectomies (or T & A) also demonstrated safety and efficacy.
  • Established protocols and criteria facilitated the safe integration of daycare T & A into routine practice at B.C.C.H.

Conclusions:

  • Daycare tonsillectomy (T) and adenoidectomy (A) are safe and viable procedures for selected pediatric patients.
  • The structured approach implemented at B.C.C.H., including pilot projects and defined criteria, ensured successful adoption of outpatient T & A.
  • Daycare tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy and daycare adenoidectomy are now established routine procedures at B.C.C.H.

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