Self-reported postoperative recovery in children after tonsillectomy compared to tonsillotomy

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Pediatric Surgery
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Tonsil surgery, including tonsillotomy (TT) and tonsillectomy (TE), is common in children.
• Postoperative recovery significantly impacts children's well-being and daily activities.
• Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are crucial for assessing recovery and guiding care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe self-reported postoperative recovery in children after tonsil surgery.
• To compare the recovery experiences between tonsillotomy and tonsillectomy procedures.

Main Methods:

• 238 children (4-12 years) undergoing tonsil surgery were included.
• Procedures included partial tonsil resection/tonsillotomy (TT) or total tonsillectomy (TE).
• Postoperative recovery was assessed on days 1, 4, and 10 using the Postoperative Recovery in Children (PRiC) instrument.

Main Results:

• Recovery was affected by daily activities, physical symptoms (sore throat, otalgia, dizziness), and emotional aspects.
• Children undergoing TE reported worse recovery compared to those undergoing TT (p < 0.01-0.001).
• Older children (>6 years) reported more physical discomfort, while younger children experienced worse emotional states.

Conclusions:

• Children can effectively report their recovery experiences using validated instruments like PRiC.
• Tonsillotomy (TT) results in less postoperative morbidity and a quicker return to normal activities compared to tonsillectomy (TE).
• PROMs are essential for patient-centered care and optimizing postoperative management following pediatric tonsil surgery.