title: Toward Adenotonsillectomy in Children: A Review for the General Pediatrician.
abstract: Adenotonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in children, with more than half a million procedures performed annually. We provide a review of the procedure, including indications, contraindications, perioperative issues, and current controversies. A more in-depth discussion of indications for sleep-disordered breathing and recurrent throat infections is performed. We provide a reasonable approach to these conditions for the general pediatrician. Finally, we discuss selected areas of current controversies: the role of preoperative polysomnogram, postoperative weight gain, and effects on immune function.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Ingram
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora3Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora.
authors.forename: Norman R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D017286:Polysomnography; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000601:surgery*; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*