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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
05:07
CO2-Lasertonsillotomy Under Local Anesthesia in Adults
Published on: November 6, 2019
A retrospective study of the eligibility for tonsillectomy
Udi Katzenell1, Erez Bakshi, Isaac Ashkenazi
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerfin, Israel. katzudi@zahav.net.il
The Israel Medical Association Journal : IMAJ
|January 20, 2011
Summary
Tonsillectomy referral criteria for adults with recurrent tonsillitis are not consistently followed. New guidelines are needed as current criteria are rarely met, despite potential surgical benefit.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Surgical Indications
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Pediatric tonsillectomy criteria are applied to adults with recurrent acute tonsillitis.
- No prior studies assessed adherence to these guidelines in adult populations.
- Recurrent tonsillitis remains a common indication for tonsillectomy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate adult patient eligibility for tonsillectomy based on established referral criteria.
- To assess adherence to existing tonsillectomy referral guidelines in a military otolaryngology clinic.
- To determine if patients referred for tonsillectomy due to recurrent tonsillitis met the criteria.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series analysis of 44 tonsillectomized patients.
- Review of medical records from an ambulatory military otolaryngology clinic.
- Quantification of throat infections meeting referral criteria in the year preceding surgery.
Main Results:
- The average number of qualifying throat infections was 1.89 per year, falling below the typical threshold.
- Only one patient met the criterion of >6 infections in the past year.
- Patients averaged 12.92 clinic visits for upper respiratory tract infections annually.
Conclusions:
- Existing tonsillectomy referral criteria are not strictly followed for adult patients.
- Surgery may still be beneficial even when criteria are not fully met.
- Development of new, specific referral criteria for adult tonsillectomy is recommended.
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