Paediatric tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy in a rural setting: a retrospective study over a period of 6-years

Background: Swan Hill District Health (SHDH) provides Otolaryngological services to outer regional Victoria. A preoperative checklist determines eligibility for tonsillectomy, and the role of preoperative investigations such as oximetry. Visiting specialists who provide T&A also remain on-site for 24 h post-surgery. Management of post-discharge complications is supported by SHDH's Emergency Department. Unstable patients are transferred to tertiary care hospitals. This study examines the safety outcomes associated with rural Tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy (T&A) and the impact of peri-operative protocols on these outcomes.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of all paediatric (2-18 years old) patients undergoing T&A from August 2014 to June 2020 at SHDH. Four external hospital databases which accept patient transfers from SHDH were searched for T&A-related complications. The primary outcome was complication incidence. Secondary outcomes were length of stay, and rates of hospital readmissions, return to theatre and inter-hospital transfer.

Results: Two hundred and four patients were included, with median age 6 years old; 68.1% (n = 139/204) had obstructive sleep apnoea, or sleep disordered breathing, wherein 36.0% (n = 50/139) had documented evidence of normal/inconclusive oximetry. The complication rate is 6.9% (n = 14/204), with two intraoperative, five perioperative and seven post-discharge complications. All intra- and peri-operative complications were managed locally. All post-discharge complications presented to outer regional EDs. Two patients required inter-hospital transfer for monitoring of post-tonsillectomy bleeds in a specialist unit.

Conclusions: Patients who pass a preoperative risk checklist can safely undergo T&A in selected rural settings which adhere to strict patient selection criteria and implement safety measures to address complications.