Comparing postoperative quality of life in children after microdebrider intracapsular tonsillotomy and tonsillectomy

Objective: To evaluate postoperative quality of life in patients undergoing microdebrider intracapsular tonsillotomy and adenoidectomy (PITA) in comparison with traditional adenotonsillectomy (AT) and to assess PITA's efficacy in solving upper-airway obstructive symptoms. Methods: 29 children with adenotonsillar hyperplasia referred for AT were included. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (underwent PITA) included 14 children (age 5.1 +/- 1.8 years) affected by night-time airway obstruction without a relevant history of recurrent tonsillitis; Group 2 (underwent AT) included 15 children (age 5.2 +/- 1.7 years) with a history of upper-airway obstruction during sleep and recurrent acute tonsillitis. Outcomes measures included the number of administered pain medications, time before returning to a full diet, Obstructive Sleep Apnea survey (OSA-18), parent's postoperative pain measure questionnaire (PPPM) and Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBFPRS). Results: Postoperative pain was significantly lower in the PITA group, as demonstrated by PPPM and WBFPRS scores and by a lower number of pain medications used. PITA group also resumed a regular diet earlier (P < 0.001). OSA-18 scores proved that both PITA and AT were equally effective in curing upper-airway obstructive symptoms. Conclusion: PITA reduces post-tonsil ablation morbidity and call be a valid alternative to AT for treating upper-airway obstruction due to adenotonsillar hyperplasia. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.