Evaluation and management of pediatric nasal obstruction: A survey of practice patterns

Gavriel D Kohlberg1, Michael G Stewart, Robert F Ward

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.

Insights

Pediatric nasal obstruction due to inferior turbinate (IT) and adenoid hypertrophy is common. Surgeons are less likely to perform IT reduction when adenoid hypertrophy is more severe.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Pediatric Surgery

Background:

  • Inferior turbinate (IT) hypertrophy and adenoid hypertrophy are common causes of pediatric nasal obstruction.
  • Effective management requires understanding surgical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To survey pediatric otolaryngologists on their evaluation and management of nasal obstruction.
  • To investigate surgical preferences regarding IT and adenoid hypertrophy.

Main Methods:

  • Electronic questionnaire with clinical videos sent to pediatric otolaryngologists.
  • Respondents evaluated scenarios of pediatric nasal obstruction unresponsive to medical therapy.

Main Results:

  • 75 completed questionnaires analyzed.
  • IT reduction was chosen less frequently when adenoid hypertrophy was more severe (p < 0.0001 for video, p = 0.039 for text).

Conclusions:

  • Surgical decision for IT reduction is inversely related to adenoid hypertrophy severity.
  • Future pediatric IT surgery studies need objective descriptions of IT and adenoid size.
Abstract

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