ASSESSMENT OF SEQUELAE AT HOME FOLLOWING ADENOTONSILLECTOMY - A BASISFOR DAY-CASE MANAGEMENT

Adenotonsillectomy is traditionally performed as an in-patient procedu re. Although day-case adenotonsillectomy is practised in some units in the USA, Canada, Finland and Israel, it is rarely practised in the UK . This study looks at a cohort of 100 consecutive children admitted fo r adenotonsillectomy and follows their progress after discharge. It al so assesses parental attitudes to day-case surgery. The results highli ght parental anxiety associated with day-case adenotonsillectomy. Only 28% of parents would have liked the procedure to be carried out on a day-case basis with 46% of parents considering a single night stay to be too short. More support must be given to parents in the UK if day-c ase adenotonsillectomy is to become an acceptable procedure.