Paediatric adenotonsillectomy as a daycase for obstructive sleep apnoea: how we do it in a tertiary unit.
BACKGROUND
Paediatric adenotonsillectomy is a common ENT operation. Daycase surgery for uncomplicated, elective procedures is encouraged in order to improve efficiency in healthcare. For patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), most units advocate an overnight stay for adenotonsillectomy, a procedure usually performed as a daycase in other contexts.


METHODS
A retrospective casenote review was carried out from 1st December 2011 to 1st December 2012 for all children undergoing daycase adenotonsillectomy for treatment of OSA at Bart's Children's and the Royal London Hospital.


RESULTS
250 children underwent adenotonsillectomies for OSA as daycase procedures over twelve months. 6% had immediate, unplanned overnight admissions. 3% were readmitted within 30 days. No patients readmitted required surgical intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
For an appropriately selected child, adenotonsillectomy can be safely performed as a daycase procedure in a tertiary centre.
CT1 Surgery, Bart's Children's and the Royal London Hospital, United Kingdom. Electronic address: lillicooper@doctors.org.uk.
Lilli
L
Cooper
Kathryn
K
Ford
Yogesh
Y
Bajaj
D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061214:Patient Safety; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom
Adenotonsillectomy; Child; Daycase; Obstructive sleep apnoea