Day case tonsillectomy for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in children: Alder Hey experience

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess the safety of paediatric adeno-tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) performed as a day case procedure.MethodologyPostoperative airway related complications were prospectively evaluated in children undergoing adeno-tonsillectomy for OSAS over a 12-month period in a tertiary care centre. All data was analysed and descriptive statistics performed.ResultsThe overall incidence of postoperative airway related complications were 21 (10.4%) in 202 consecutively operated children. Eleven were in children with other medical co-morbidities (n = 37) of which 8 occurred after 6 h. Amongst those without any medical illnesses (n = 165), two (1.2%) developed OSAS related complication after 6 h of surgery only one of which needed medical/nursing intervention. The incidence of postoperative desaturations after 6 h was 21.6% in those with co-morbidities.ConclusionIt is safe to perform day case adeno-tonsillectomy for OSAS in children without any medical co-morbidities while those with other medical illnesses should be planned as in-patient procedures.