Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: changing trends.
A review of 1,722 tonsil and adenoid procedures performed between 1978 and 1986 is presented. Each year there has been a progressive decrease in the number of procedures performed; the incidence of adenoidectomy has declined particularly. Although infection remains the predominant indication for surgery, there has been a dramatic rise in obstructive sleep apnea as a significant indication, from 0% in 1978 to 19% in 1986. At present, this trend promises to continue as physicians become increasingly aware of the prevalence and seriousness of adenotonsillar hypertrophy as a cause of sleep apnea, particularly in the general pediatric population.
Rosenfeld
R M
RM
Department of Otolaryngology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York 10029.
Green
R P
RP
D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000639:trends*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000601:surgery; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000639:trends*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000601:surgery