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.