Incidence and potential risk factors for adenoid regrowth and revision adenoidectomy: A meta-analysis

To examine the potential risk factors for adenoid regrowth and the incidence of revision adenoidectomy.

The English-language literature published from January 1995 to January 2020 regarding adenoid regrowth and revision adenoidectomy was reviewed. The keywords used were 'adenoids', 'adenoid regrowth' and 'revision adenoidectomy'. The inclusion criteria were English language, sample size greater than five and presentation of extractable data on risk factors for adenoid regrowth and rates of revision adenoidectomy. Random-effects modelling was used to estimate summary outcomes.

Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. There was a total of 143369 cases of baseline adenoidectomies. The mean age at primary surgery was 4.62 years (SD = 1.47 years, range of 2.3-7.3 years) and the mean age at revision adenoidectomy was 5.43 years (SD = 1.80 years, range of 2.5-7.6 years). Six studies reported on adenoid regrowth and a total of 4950 baseline adenoidectomies were examined. The prevalence of adenoid regrowth was 8%. Fifteen studies examined the rate of revision adenoidectomy and a total of 119369 baseline adenoidectomies were analysed. The revision adenoidectomy rate was 2%. Of the patients with revision adenoidectomy, 14% had allergic rhinitis and 9% had asthma. With regards to indications for revision adenoidectomy, 26% had OSA, 86% were snorers, 63% had nasal obstruction, 32% had recurrent AOM and 73% had OME.

The combined revision adenoidectomy rate from this study is 2%. Young age at first surgery was prevalent as well as co-morbidities of allergic rhinitis and asthma and indications for primary adenoidectomy like upper airway obstructive symptoms and middle ear disease. However, given the heterogeneity of these studies, direct cause and effect could not be concluded.