Leighton S E, Rowe-Jones J M, Knight J R, Moore-Gillon V L
Department of Otolaryngology, St George's Hospital, London, UK.
Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 1993 Jun;18(3):215-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2273.1993.tb00834.x.
The Audit Commission recommends that more day surgery be undertaken in the Health Service. In a prospective study of 62 children undergoing adenoidectomy one major complication commenced within 2 hours of surgery. Of 15 minor complications, 78% occurred within 6 hours of surgery; they did not herald later major complications. Day adenoidectomy can safely be performed if patients remain in hospital for 6-8 hours post-operatively and then fulfil the following discharge criteria: they are apyrexial, eating, drinking and with no signs of haemorrhage. This will not result in a significant increase in workload for general practitioners. Day adenoidectomy for medically and socially appropriate patients increases our day surgery figures by 74% to 43% of the routine paediatric ENT caseload. There are immediate benefits to patients but the potential economic benefits to the Health Service will not be felt unless these children are treated in a designated Day Case Unit.
