Assessment of clinical improvement and quality of life before and after tonsillectomy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess clinical improvement and quality of life measures in patients who had undergone tonsillectomy for recurrent acute and chronic tonsillitis between March 2004 and March 2005.

METHOD:

A retrospective survey of all adults and children who had undergone tonsillectomy for recurrent acute and chronic tonsillitis. Patients were asked to compare their symptoms for the 12-month period before and after tonsillectomy.

RESULTS:

A review of 100 patients revealed that, following tonsillectomy: their days off work (or school) due to sore throat reduced by 95.3 per cent (from a mean of 27.6 to 1.3 days; confidence intervals 89.7 and 99.6 per cent); their visits to their general practitioner due to sore throat reduced by 95.6 per cent (from a mean of 7.9 to 0.4 visits; confidence intervals 93.8 and 95.1 per cent); and more than 90 per cent reported improved feelings of well-being, general health and energy.

CONCLUSION:

We conclude that tonsillectomy is of benefit for patients with recurrent acute and chronic tonsillitis. Tonsillectomy significantly reduced general practitioner attendances and resulted in an improved feeling of health and well-being.

• Authors: D Akgun, F K Seymour, A Qayyum, R Crystal, A Frosh
• Journal: The Journal of laryngology and otology (J Laryngol Otol) Vol. 123 Issue 2 Pg. 199-202 (Feb 2009) ISSN: 1748-5460 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18492313 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Absenteeism
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Female
• Health Status
• Humans
• Male
• Office Visits (statistics & numerical data)
• Patient Satisfaction
• Quality of Life (psychology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Severity of Illness Index
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Tonsillectomy (psychology)
• Tonsillitis (surgery)
• Treatment Outcome