Assessment of sequelae at home following adenotonsillectomy. A basis for day-case management?

Adenotonsillectomy is traditionally performed as an in-patient procedure. 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 for adenotonsillectomy and follows their progress after discharge. It also assesses parental attitudes to day-case surgery. The results highlight 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-case adenotonsillectomy is to become an acceptable procedure.