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Published on: November 6, 2019
Telephone-Based Triage After Pediatric Tonsillectomy: A Retrospective Analysis.
Alyssa C Chapel1, Neila Kline1, Saudamini Lele2
1Department of Otolaryngology, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas Texas USA.
OTO Open
|June 30, 2026
Summary
Posttonsillectomy telephone triage effectively manages pediatric patients, significantly reducing emergency department (ED) visits. This approach ensures most complications are handled at home, improving patient outcomes and potentially saving healthcare costs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Healthcare Management
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Tonsillectomy is a common pediatric procedure with potential postoperative complications.
- Effective triage systems are crucial for managing post-surgical care and preventing unnecessary emergency department (ED) visits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utilization and effectiveness of a telephone triage system for pediatric posttonsillectomy patients.
- To assess short-term outcomes, including ED visits and bleeding events, associated with telephone triage.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary pediatric hospital.
- Included 12,167 patients aged 0-18 years undergoing tonsillectomy between January 2020 and December 2024.
- Analyzed telephone call data, ED visits, and bleeding events within 30 days post-surgery.
Main Results:
- 20.4% of patients contacted telephone triage; 91.5% were managed without ED referral.
- Telephone triage prevented an estimated 2273 ED visits.
- Patients using telephone triage were more likely to have Medicaid insurance and reside in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Conclusions:
- Telephone-based triage is an effective strategy for reducing ED visits in pediatric posttonsillectomy patients.
- The system successfully managed most complications at home, demonstrating significant healthcare cost savings.
- Structured phone triage safely managed concerns, with high-disadvantage patients achieving similar outcomes to their peers.
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