Short-term Quality of Life in tonsillectomized patients according to the new S2k guideline

Background  Tonsillectomy (TE) for recurrent tonsillitis (RT) is one of the most common surgical interventions. Since 2015, the indication criteria for TE have become much stricter (German S2k guideline). This study is intended to clarify if stringent indication for TE will better identify patients worthy of surgery and patients’ Quality of Life (QoL).

Methods  38 patients were prospectively recruited according to the German S2k guideline in 2020 undergoing tonsillectomy at the university hospital of Heidelberg. They completed the Tonsillectomy Outcome Inventory 14 (TOI-14) before and 2, 4, 14 days as well as 6 months after TE. The results were compared with those of a historical RT cohort from 2006-2008 and with a healthy middle-European cohort.

Results From pre- to 6 months postoperative, RT patients’ QoL significantly improved, measured by TOI-14 (49.92 vs. 6.35; p<0.001). The historical cohort had significantly less RT complaints than the new cohort recruited according to the S2k guideline, but more dissatisfaction in QoL after TE. The new TE cohort had worse QoL pre- (49.92 vs. 11.78; p<0.001) but more QoL postoperatively (6.34 vs. 11.78; p = 0.004) than healthy individuals.

Conclusion  The study shows that stricter indication criteria for a tonsillectomy are justified and that patients benefit from TE starting 2 weeks postoperatively.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
12. Mai 2023