Related Experiment Videos
[Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children of 1 and 2 years]
1Istituto per l'Infanzia, Trieste, Italia.
Insights
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are safe procedures for children under three years old. This study found no postoperative complications in 166 young patients undergoing these common surgeries.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Surgery
Context:
- Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are common surgical procedures.
- Evaluating surgical risks and benefits in very young children is crucial.
Purpose:
- To assess the safety and efficacy of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children under three years old.
- To analyze the indications and outcomes of these procedures in a pediatric population.
Summary:
- A retrospective study of 166 children under three years old (7 months to 3 years) undergoing tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy.
- Indications included mouth breathing, snoring, recurrent otitis media, obstructive sleep problems, and eating/swallowing disorders.
- No postoperative bleeding, readmission for dehydration, or need for antibiotics/aspirin was observed; only one dose of analgesia was administered.
Impact:
- Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy can be performed safely in very young children.
- The findings support the safety profile of these procedures in pediatric patients, informing clinical practice and parental decision-making.
Abstract:
The aim of this paper is evaluate the risk and the benefit to tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in very young children. Between January 1989 and May 1993 we have operated on 166 children less than 3 years old (98 adenoidectomies and 68 adenotonsillectomies). 19 one year old children were submitted to adenoidectomy and 7 to tonsillectomy, the youngest was 7 months old. The indication for adenoidectomy were prevalent mouth breathing, snoring and recurrent otitis media; the criteria for tonsillectomy have been obstructive sleep problems, history of snoring, eating and swallowing disorders (97% of cases) and recurrent viral tonsillitis (3% of cases). All operation were performed under general anesthesia with children in Rose position. Postoperatively no antibiotics were given and only one dose of analgesic drug. We have never used aspirin either before or after surgery. No child had postoperative bleeding. No child has been readmitted for dehydration. We conclude after this study that tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy can be a safe procedure also in very young children.