Abstract
Objective: The purpose of the National Tonsil Surgery Register is to compile outcome data with regard to tonsil surgery for description of the activities of respectively clinic, clinical improvement programs and research. The aim of this paper is to describe age, gender, indications with respect to surgical methods and techniques.
Method: All patients registered in the registry between March 2009 to January 2012 were analyzed with respect to demographics, indication for surgery, surgical method and surgical techniques. A total of 24,084 patients were registered, representing 62% completeness and 86 % coverage.
Results: The most common indication for tonsillar surgery was Z upper airway obstruction registered for 59% of the patients (median age, 5 years, 56% boys). The indicated infection- related symptoms were registered for 38% of the patients (median age, 19 years, 61% girls). The most commonly used surgical procedure for patients with obstruction were tonsillotomy + adenoidectomy (TT+A, 46%), tonsillectomy + adenoidectomy (TE+A, 23%), and tonsillectomy (TE, 20%). TE dominated for patients operated for infection-related symptoms (89%). Regardless of indication TE and TE+A procedures were performed with cold steel (94%) while TT and TT+A was performed with radiofrequency techniques (97%).
Conclusion: In Sweden, tonsil surgery for obstructive symptoms are typically performed in preschool age with TT/TT+A and radiofrequency and affects more boys than girls. Tonsil surgery for infection-related indications is typically performed in the late teens with TE using cold steel, and girls are affected more often.
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