Comparative audit of tonsillectomy

Abstract

The Comparative Audit Service of the Royal College of Surgeons of England undertook an audit of tonsillectomy throughout England and Wales in 1997. There were three parts to the audit: a management questionnaire related to tonsillectomy and its indications; an inpatient questionnaire for patients undergoing tonsillectomy; and a postoperative patient questionnaire. One hundred and fourteen ENT consultants returned the management questionnaire, 2450 questionnaires on inpatient details were returned by 132 consultants, and 1408 patients returned postoperative questionnaires. Two-thirds of the patients underwent tonsillectomy for recurrent acute tonsillitis, and most stayed 1 night in hospital; only 3% were day cases. Postoperative haemorrhage necessitated return to theatre for 0.75% of patients. Almost 7% of patients had to be readmitted after discharge. Overall, 92% of patients felt that their throat was better than before the operation, but slightly less than this number (88%) were pleased that they had the operation. The results are further discussed in the paper. The ability to cross-reference each part of the audit for individual patients proved extremely useful.