title: Children's quality of life after adenotonsillectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although adenotonsillectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the pediatric population, its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL) has not been well established. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of adenotonsillectomy on children's HRQL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents of the children who underwent adenotonsillectomy were invited to our clinic approximately one year after the surgery for a face-to-face survey to evaluate their child's HRQL. In total, 119 parents of children who underwent adenotonsillectomy for different reasons were interviewed. To quantify the benefit of the operation, the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory (GCBI) was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean GCBI score was 58 +/- 17.5 (minimum -22.9, maximum 79.2), indicating an increase in overall HRQL. Gender had no influence on the GCBI scores (p > 0.05). Satisfaction scores of the children aged 2-6 years were significantly higher than those of other age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical treatment of chronic adenotonsillar disease has a positive impact on children's HRQL. Although surgery is highly effective in all age groups, in terms of children's quality of life, better results can be obtained if the operation is done in the earliest years of life.
authors.affiliation: Birecik State Hospital, Otorhinolaryngology Division, Sanliurfa, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanmaz
authors.affiliation: Ataturk Education and Research Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muderris
authors.affiliation: Ataturk Education and Research Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bercin
authors.affiliation: Ataturk Education and Research Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiris
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome