Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/13689
Title: Antibiotic use and doctor visits are reduced after adenotonsillectomy
Authors: LEMKENS, Nele 
LEMKENS, Peter 
Egondi, T.W.
SCHROOTEN, Ward 
Jorissen, M.
Mertens, R.
de Raeve, G.
Preal, R.
Debruyne, F.
Issue Date: 2010
Source: B-ENT (Leuven), 6 (4), p. 239-243
Abstract: OBJECTIVE A tonsillectomy, with or without an adenotomy ((A)TE), is a common surgical procedure in children. The most important indications are recurrent tonsillitis and upper airway obstruction secondary to adenotonsillar hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the current (A)TE practice in Belgium reduced the need for medical care. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS The database of the Christelijke Mutualiteit, one of the most important health insurance organizations in Belgium, provided data on approximately 11,000 (A)TE's in children aged 0 to 15 years, performed by different ENT-specialists from Jan 1st 2002 to Sept 30th 2003. We compared the use of antibiotics during the 12 months before and the 12 months after (A)TE. We also compared the number of visits to pediatricians and general practitioners during the 12 months before and the 12 months after surgery. RESULTS The median antibiotic use dropped from 4 boxes in the year before the operation to 1 box in the year after the operation. The median number of doctor visits also dropped from 7 visits in the year before to 4 visits in the year after (A)TE. CONCLUSION Although there are no generally accepted guidelines on the indications for (A)TE in Belgium, the current practice effectively reduced the need for medical care.
Keywords: Adenotonsillectomy; tonsillectomy; indications; children
Document URI: http://hdl.handle.net/1942/13689
Link to publication/dataset: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21302684
e-ISSN: 1781-782X
Category: A1
Type: Journal Contribution
Appears in Collections:Research publications

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