Suitability of children for ENT day case procedures

This prospective study evaluates the suitability of 500 children under 12 years of age using both medical and social criteria, to determine the proportion of children suitable for increasing the scope of ENT operations performed as day cases. Co-existing medical conditions that could interfere with both surgery and anaesthesia were found in 39 (8%). A combination of adverse social and domestic conditions, including the number of adults and children resident, number of bedrooms and individuals sleeping in the child's bedroom, the number of cars, and the presence of a telephone, were present in 171 (34%) of children's homes and were almost exclusively found in National Health Service (NHS) patients. Private patients, 31 (6%) were more suitable for day surgery. Guidelines need to be followed to minimize the risk if the number of procedures is increased, if more patients were treated privately, the proportionate number of patients requiring in patient care would rise in the National Health Service (NHS).