TONSILLECTOMY

QUALITY-OF-LIFE IMPROVEMENT IN SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the quality - of - life benefit derived from Tonsillectomy and its specific
impacts. Design: A Cross sectional survey. Setting: ENT Department, CMH Rawalpindi. Period: From 01 Jan 2004
to 31 Dec 2004. Material & Methods: The Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) was used to quantify the health benefit
of tonsillectomy. Data was collected for demographics and antibiotic use, physician visit, and school days missed due
to chronic tonsillitis for 12 months before and after tonsillectomy. This study includes the patients who had undergone
tonsillectomy alone. Results: A total of 102 patient met inclusion criteria for this study. Sixty five parents returned
complete survey of their children. The mean age was 10.3 years (5-15 years). The improvements in the total score
(+27.1), general health sub score (+34.7), social functioning sub score (+14.2), and physical functioning sub score
(9.38) were each statistically significant (P<.001), indicating a significant health benefit of tonsillectomy. Statistically
significant decreases in mean weeks receiving antibiotics (-7.8 weeks), mean physician visits (-5.4), and mean
schooldays missed (-6.3 days) were noted after tonsillectomy (P<.001). Conclusion: Tonsillectomy provides a
significant quality-of-life improvement for children with chronic tonsillitis. Tonsillectomy also affords decreases in
medical resource utilization and missed school days after tonsillectomy. Such factors should be incorporated into
decision making when considering tonsillectomy.