[Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children of 1 and 2 years]

Abstract

The aim of this paper is evaluate the risk and the benefit to tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in very young children. Between January 1989 and May 1993 we have operated on 166 children less than 3 years old (98 adenoidectomies and 68 adenotonsillectomies). 19 one year old children were submitted to adenoidectomy and 7 to tonsillectomy, the youngest was 7 months old. The indication for adenoidectomy were prevalent mouth breathing, snoring and recurrent otitis media; the criteria for tonsillectomy have been obstructive sleep problems, history of snoring, eating and swallowing disorders (97% of cases) and recurrent viral tonsillitis (3% of cases). All operation were performed under general anesthesia with children in Rose position. Postoperatively no antibiotics were given and only one dose of analgesic drug. We have never used aspirin either before or after surgery. No child had postoperative bleeding. No child has been readmitted for dehydration. We conclude after this study that tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy can be a safe procedure also in very young children.