Preoperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes following adenoidectomy in children.
OBJECTIVE
(1) To describe various preoperative and diagnostic findings of children undergoing adenoidectomy and (2) to evaluate quality of life outcomes following adenoidectomy in children.


METHODS
This was a prospective observational study. Patients who were candidates for adenoidectomy at The Hospital for Sick Children were evaluated with respect to preoperative symptoms, flexible nasal endoscopy (FNE) findings, and nasal airflow (NAF) studies. Following surgery, a quality of life questionnaire was administered to all available patients and an attempt was made to repeat the NAF study.


RESULTS
Fifty-seven patients were included in the study (31 females and 26 males). The average age of the patient at surgery was 10.1 years. Thirty patients (52.6%) had a significant NAF study, whereas FNE revealed an average nasopharyngeal obstruction of 73.2%. We did not find any correlation between preoperative symptoms, FNE findings, or NAF study results. The degree of symptom reduction was the only predictor of how satisfied a patient would be in the postoperative period (p<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In our study of adenoidectomy patients, clinical signs and symptoms appear to be more predictable than the objective tests of NAF and FNE. As such, following these symptoms in the postoperative period is important in determining a patient's satisfaction following surgery.
Lee
John
J
Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Johnm.lee@utoronto.ca
Cohen-Kerem
Raanan
R
Crysdale
William S
WS
D000233:Adenoidectomy; D000234:Adenoids / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008297:Male; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome