Does laryngopharyngeal reflux affect healing and recovery after tonsillectomy?
BACKGROUND
Laryngopharyngeal reflux is increasingly being implicated in several otolaryngological disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To study a potential correlation between pre-operative laryngopharyngeal reflux and wound healing and recovery after tonsillectomy, based on subjective and objective findings.


METHODS
A prospective, blinded study was undertaken, including 60 patients scheduled for tonsillectomy, divided into two equal groups: a study group (group A) with pre-operative laryngopharyngeal reflux documented using ambulatory 24-hour pH monitoring; and a control group (group B) without laryngopharyngeal reflux.


RESULTS
Group A had significantly higher pain scores on the seventh and 14th post-operative days (p = 0.022 and p = 0.000, respectively) and took a significantly longer time to return to normal eating (p = 0.013), compared with group B. Group A also showed significantly slower healing on the seventh and 14th post-operative days, as estimated by assessing the grade of post-operative slough formation (p = 0.016 and p = 0.029, respectively). A significant correlation between the number of pharyngeal reflux episodes and the degree of post-operative slough was also found.


CONCLUSIONS
Laryngopharyngeal reflux can significantly decrease wound healing following tonsillectomy. Therefore, pre-operative recognition and management of this condition is desirable in order to eliminate its negative post-operative effect.
Elwany
S
S
Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
Nour
Y A
YA
Magdy
E A
EA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014945:Wound Healing