What the blogosphere has to say about adult tonsillectomy

Objectives Tonsillectomy has generated extensive comment on the internet, but this content has not been examined in a scientific manner. This study aimed to determine what the blogosphere has to say about adult tonsillectomy and to report whether this information can be used to improve post-surgical care. Methods The internet was searched to find personal blogs relating to tonsillectomy. A retrospective review of data collected on these blogs was carried out and the blogs were conceptually analysed by the authors. Results Fifty blogs were included. Seventy per cent of patients had read blogs prior to their procedure. The average pain score where available was 7.2. Complications occurred in 10 per cent of patients. Only 1 patient (2 per cent) regretted having a tonsillectomy. Conclusion It is important for otolaryngologists to stay in tune with the blogosphere as this unregulated and easily accessible source of information is both friend and foe but will ultimately help in pre-operative counselling and post-operative management.

Postoperative Opioid Pain Medication Usage Following Adult Tonsillectomy

ABSTRACT Introduction The purpose of this study was to determine if short-term, high-quantity opioid use following adult tonsillectomy in active duty military members results in opioid misuse, using a proxy measure of referrals to substance abuse rehabilitation programs. Materials and Methods An Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective chart review was performed of 741 active duty patients who underwent tonsillectomy between 2012 and 2017. Data collection included preoperative medications within 60 days of surgery, all postoperative opioid prescriptions up to 12 months following surgery, and referrals to substance abuse rehabilitation within a year of surgery. Results Out of 741 patients, 658 met inclusion criteria. Fifty-one percent were women and the average age was 26 years. Fifty-nine percent of patients received 5 mg/325 mg oxycodone/acetaminophen as their initial postoperative pain medication. The average number of opioid tablets prescribed was 70 ± 18. Ninety three percent of patients received at least 60 tabs. The refill rate within 30 days of tonsillectomy was 38.6%. In the year following surgery, 25.4% of patients received additional doses of outpatient opioids for other indications. Nineteen patients (2.9%) were referred for substance abuse treatment within 1 year of tonsillectomy: seventeen for alcohol abuse, one for marijuana, and one for alcohol/marijuana. There were no referrals for opiate misuse or abuse. Conclusion Short-term, high-quantity opioid treatment of post-tonsillectomy pain in active duty adults does not result in long-term opioid misuse, as measured by substance abuse treatment program referrals within a year after surgery. This finding supports the appropriateness of adequate short-term narcotic medication treatment. The long-term readiness of these patients appears unaffected by long-term opioid misuse or abuse. Even with this finding, there is an institutional shift to multi-modality pain management and appropriate opioid reduction to further mitigate the risk of opioid misuse. Extrapolation of these findings to all adult tonsillectomy patients should be done with caution, as there are several protective factors in the active duty population such as stable full-time employment with mandatory random drug screening.

Occult Malignancy in Adult Tonsillectomy for Benign Indication

Objective: National pathology guidelines recommend full pathologic analysis for all adult tonsillectomy specimens. We evaluated the available data on occult malignancy in adult tonsillectomy for benign indication, and created a screening system to reduce the risk of missed malignancies if routine histopathologic examination were to be discontinued. Study design: Retrospective chart review and systematic review of the literature. Setting: Tertiary care academic hospital and multi-hospital private healthcare system. Subjects and methods: A systematic literature review identified case series of adult tonsillectomy. Retrospective chart review at our institutions from 2000 to 2016 produced an additional case series. The pooled rate of occult malignancy was determined, and re-analyzed using criteria based on preoperative risk factors designed to identify patients requiring full pathologic analysis. The predicted effects of prospective application of the proposed criteria were calculated. Pooled occult malignancy prevalence was estimated. Results: Literature review and our own case series yielded 12,094 total cases. Occult malignancy prevalence in the combined data was 0.033%, representing four occult malignancies. Three out of the four would have been selected for full pathology preoperatively with use of the proposed criteria. Statistical analysis indicates that the predicted frequency of occult malignancy incidence in cases negative for the criteria is 0.01%, or 1/10,000. Conclusion: Application of the proposed criteria to adults undergoing tonsillectomy for benign indication identifies a subset of patients with an estimated incidence of occult malignancy similar to that reported for pediatric tonsillectomy, and potentially may permit safe elimination of pathologic analysis of their tonsil specimens. Level of Evidence: Pooled analysis of case series from the literature and a single institution, level 4.

Cold Technique in Adult Tonsillectomy Reduces Waste and Cost

Objectives: To quantify differences in waste and cost of disposable equipment between different tonsillectomy techniques. Methods: Prospective study of waste attributable to disposable waste produced by tonsillectomy surgery. Disposable equipment required for tonsillectomy using cold, monopolar electrocautery (ME), and coblation techniques was measured; and differences in mass, volume, and cost of equipment between the 3 techniques were quantified. Results: Cold technique was found to produce the least waste and have the lowest cost attributable to disposable surgical equipment. Projected single-case savings in mass and volume of waste resulting from using cold technique compared to ME were 1.272 kg and 1.013 L, respectively, and 1.043 kg and 1.723 L compared to coblation. Projected single-case savings in cost of disposable equipment for cold technique compared to ME were US$9.35 and US$185.05 compared to coblation. Discussion: Using cold technique for adult tonsillectomy reduces waste and cost of disposable equipment compared to ME and coblation. Implications for Practice: Surgeons desiring to reduce cost and waste associated with tonsillectomy surgery may consider transitioning to cold technique.

Tonsillectomy in Adults: Analysis of Indications and Outcome in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria

Background: Tonsillectomy is a well-established surgical procedure practiced commonly by otolaryngologist for removal of tonsils. Although being a relatively simple and common procedure, it is not without considerable complications. This study aimed to profile the indication and outcome of adult tonsillectomy in our region. Method: This was a retrospective study of all adults who had tonsillectomy in the department of Otorhinolaryngology, Usman Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital, (UDUTH) Sokoto, over a seven-year period from 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2017. All information was carefully retrieved from each patient’s case file and from the operation register. The data retrieved was subsequently analysed. Results: A total of 55 adults patients had tonsillectomy over the period of study. Age range was 18 to 45 years with a mean age of 26.3 years. There were 16 males (29.1%) and 39 females (70.9%) with a male to female ratio of 1:2.4. Recurrent tonsillitis 28(50.9%) was the commonest indication; others include: post quinsy 13(23.6%), tonsillomegally 6(10.9%); suspected neoplasm 6(10.9%); recurrent otalgia secondary to tonsillomegally 2(3.6%) Five patients had unilateral tonsillectomy for suspected neoplasm while others had bilateral tonsillectomy. Cold dissection was used in 37 (67.2%) of the patients, while 18(32.7%)were by electro cautery (Bipolar diathermy). The commonest post-operative complication was pain in all patients, followed by otalgia (29.1%) and secondary post tonsillectomy bleed in two patients. No patient had blood transfusion. Hospital average stay was 3 days. Follow up was uneventful in 16 (29.1%) of patients while 4(7.3%) patients had squamous cell carcinoma and were refered to Oncologist. The remaining 35 patients were lost to follow up. Conclusion: The commonest indication for Adult tonsillectomy is chronic recurrent tonsillitis. Histopathological analysis of every tonsil specimen is advocated.