Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 6, 2026
CO2-Lasertonsillotomy Under Local Anesthesia in Adults
Published on: November 6, 2019
Indirect costs related to caregivers' absence from work after paediatric tonsil surgery
Gunnhildur Gudnadottir1, G Ragnarson Tennvall2, J Stalfors3
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gröna stråket 9, 413 46, Gothenburg, Sweden. gunhildur.gudnadottir@vgregion.se.
Insights
Tonsillotomy is a more cost-effective surgical option than tonsillectomy for children with sleep-disordered breathing. Caregivers miss less work due to reduced pain and faster recovery after tonsillotomy.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Health Economics
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Tonsillotomy is increasingly preferred over tonsillectomy for pediatric upper airway obstruction due to reduced pain and recovery time.
- Caregiver work absenteeism represents a significant indirect cost associated with pediatric surgical procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the indirect costs of caregiver absenteeism after tonsillectomy (TE) versus tonsillotomy (TT) in children.
- To evaluate the economic impact of postoperative pain and recovery duration on parental work absence.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Swedish National Tonsil Surgery Register for 4534 children aged 1-11 undergoing TE or TT.
- Utilizing child analgesic use and parental temporary benefits data to estimate caregiver work days lost.
- Calculating indirect costs using the human capital method.
Main Results:
- The mean duration of analgesic treatment was 4.6 days, with an associated indirect cost of EUR 747.
- The mean parental benefit duration was 2.9 days, costing EUR 667.
- Indirect costs for tonsillectomy (EUR 1010) were 61% higher than for tonsillotomy (EUR 629).
Conclusions:
- Tonsillotomy leads to significantly lower indirect costs for caregivers compared to tonsillectomy.
- The reduced postoperative pain and shorter recovery associated with tonsillotomy translate into substantial economic benefits.
- Choosing tonsillotomy over tonsillectomy is economically favorable for treating pediatric sleep-disordered breathing.
Abstract:
Tonsillotomy has gradually replaced tonsillectomy as the surgical method of choice in children with upper airway obstruction during sleep, because of less postoperative pain and a shorter recovery time. The aim of this study was to examine the costs related to caregivers' absenteeism from work after tonsillectomy (TE) and tonsillotomy (TT). All tonsillectomies and tonsillotomies in Sweden due to upper airway obstruction during 1 year, reported to the National Tonsil Surgery Register in children aged 1-11 were included, n = 4534. The number of days the child needed analgesics after surgery was used as a proxy to estimate the number of work days lost for the caregiver. Data from the Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) regarding the days the parents received temporary parental benefits in the month following surgery were also analysed. The indirect costs due to the caregivers' absenteeism after tonsillectomy vs tonsillotomy were calculated, using the human capital method. The patient-reported use of postoperative analgesic use was 77% (n = 3510). Data from the Social Insurance Agency were gathered for all 4534 children. The mean duration of analgesic treatment was 4.6 days (indirect cost of EUR 747). The mean number of days with parental benefits was 2.9 (EUR 667). The indirect cost of tonsillectomy was 61% higher than that of tonsillotomy (EUR 1010 vs EUR 629). The results show that the choice of surgical method affects the indirect costs, favouring the use of tonsillotomy over tonsillectomy for the treatment of children with SDB, due to less postoperative pain.
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