Day case tonsillectomy for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in children: Alder Hey experience.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to assess the safety of paediatric adeno-tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) performed as a day case procedure.


METHODS
Postoperative airway related complications were prospectively evaluated in children undergoing adeno-tonsillectomy for OSAS over a 12-month period in a tertiary care centre. All data was analysed and descriptive statistics performed.


RESULTS
The overall incidence of postoperative airway related complications were 21 (10.4%) in 202 consecutively operated children. Eleven were in children with other medical co-morbidities (n=37) of which 8 occurred after 6h. Amongst those without any medical illnesses (n=165), two (1.2%) developed OSAS related complication after 6h of surgery only one of which needed medical/nursing intervention. The incidence of postoperative desaturations after 6h was 21.6% in those with co-morbidities.


CONCLUSIONS
It is safe to perform day case adeno-tonsillectomy for OSAS in children without any medical co-morbidities while those with other medical illnesses should be planned as in-patient procedures.
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Alder Road, Liverpool L12 2AP, United Kingdom. asyoushani@gmail.com
Amir Saam
AS
Youshani
Ligy
L
Thomas
Ravi K
RK
Sharma
D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017751:Safety Management; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom