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Efficacy and Quality-of-Life Impact of Adult Tonsillectomy
Neil Bhattacharyya, MD;
Lynn J. Kepnes, RNP;
Jo Shapiro, MD
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001;127:1347-1350.
Objective To determine the quality-of-life impact and overall efficacy of adult
tonsillectomy for chronic tonsillitis.
Design Cross-sectional survey analysis of patients at least 1 year after undergoing
adult tonsillectomy.
Interventions and Outcome Measures The Glasgow Benefit Inventory was used to quantify the health benefit
of tonsillectomy. Data were collected for demographics and antibiotic use,
physician visits, and workdays missed due to chronic tonsillitis for the 12
months before and after tonsillectomy.
Results Sixty-five patients returned completed surveys. Mean age was 27.3 years,
and mean follow-up was 42.6 months. The improvements in the total score (+27.1),
general health subscore (+34.7), social functioning subscore subscore (+14.4),
and physical functioning subscore (+9.5) of the Glasgow Benefit Inventory
were each statistically significant (P<.001),
indicating a significant health benefit of tonsillectomy. Statistically significant
decreases in mean weeks receiving antibiotics (-7.8 weeks), mean physician
visits (-5.4), and mean workdays missed (-6.3 days) were noted
after tonsillectomy (P<.001).
Conclusions Adult tonsillectomy provides a significant quality-of-life improvement
for patients with chronic tonsillitis. Tonsillectomy also affords decreases
in medical resource utilization and missed workdays after tonsillectomy. Such
factors should be incorporated into decision making when considering tonsillectomy.
From the Division of Otolaryngology, Brigham and Women's Hospital,
(Drs Bhattacharyya and Shapiro and Ms Kepnes), and the Department of Otology
and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School (Drs Bhattacharyya and Shapiro), Boston,
Mass.
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