ASSESSMENT OF LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF ADENOTONSILLECTOMY ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN INDIAN PEDIATRIC POPULATION

Abstract

Background: The surgical procedures to treat recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy is performed in affected
children to allow continued normal physical and mental growth in children along with improvement of their quality of
life. Aims: The present clinical trial was conducted to compare and assess symptoms presented clinically after
tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or adenotonsillectomy in pediatric subjects. The study also aimed to assess the impact
of these surgical procedures on the quality of life in affected children. Methods: In 110 subjects within the age range of
3 years to 15 years, following complete examination of the head and neck region was performed. Questionnaire assessment
was done from the parents of the included subjects concerning tonsillitis frequency, doctor visit frequency, sleep
frequency, absence from their work/school, feeling of well-being, and sleep apnea at 3 months before and after the
surgical procedures. The collected data were subjected to statistical evaluation for results formulation. Results: In 110
study subjects, 16.36% (n=18) were treated by adenoidectomy. In 47.27% (n=52) study subjects, tonsillectomy was
done, and in 36.36% (n=40) subjects adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy combined were performed (Adenotonsillectomy).
Sleep apnea was reduced significantly from 3.01±0.98 to 0.01±0.96 in the study subjects (p ?0.001). The frequency of
throat pain and absence from school also decreased significantly from 3 months pre-operatively to 3 months
postoperatively (p < 0.001). Visits to the doctors also decreased from 5.08±2.12 to 0.30±2.14, with the p-value of ?0.001.
Also, the feeling of well-being was increased significantly. Conclusion: Within its limitations, the present study concludes
that surgical procedures such as tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or adenotonsillectomy performed for treating recurrent
tonsillitis or tonsillar hypertrophy improves the quality of life significantly in affected subjects.