The impact of adenotonsillectomy on children's quality of life.

OBJECTIVES

Although adenotonsillectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the pediatric population, there is little known about its impact on Health-related Quality of Life (HRQL). The aim of this study was to measure children's HRQL-benefit after adenotonsillectomy.

DESIGN AND SETTING

The study was carried out as a retrospective postal survey utilising a proxy rating.

PARTICIPANTS

In total, 447 parents of children who underwent adenotonsillectomy for the indication of chronic tonsillitis were included. 43% (n = 191) of the parents returned completed surveys.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

To quantify the benefit after pediatric adenotonsillectomy the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory (GCBI) was used.

RESULTS

Mean GCBI-total score was 21 +/- 19 (-8 to 77), showing an improvement in all GCBI subscales.

CONCLUSIONS

Adenotonsillectomy is a highly effective approach to treat children with tonsil disease. It has a positive impact on children's HRQL and other areas not directly associated with their tonsil disease. Moreover, this improvement in HRQL is durable and not temporary.