DAY-CASE ADENOIDECTOMY

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 surge ry. 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 wi ll not result in a significant increase in workload for general practi tioners. Day adenoidectomy for medically and socially appropriate pati ents increases our day surgery figures by 74% to 43% of the routine pa ediatric ENT caseload. There are immediate benefits to patients but th e potential economic benefits to the Health Service will not be felt u nless these children are treated in a designated Day Case Unit.