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Postoperative morbidity and mortality after adenoidectomy: A national population-based study of 51 746 surgeries
Linköping University, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Surgery, Orthopedics and Oncology. Linköping University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, Sweden.
Univ Gothenburg, Sweden.
Linköping University, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Sensory Organs and Communication. Linköping University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, Sweden.
2022 (English)In: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, ISSN 0165-5876, E-ISSN 1872-8464, Vol. 163, article id 111335Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Objectives: To investigate postoperative morbidity and mortality after paediatric adenoidectomy. Methods: This was a retrospective national population-based cohort study of data from the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR) and The Swedish Cause of Death Register (CDR). All patients aged 0-18 years who underwent adenoidectomy from 2007 to 2017 (without concomitant tonsil surgery) were included in this study. To evaluate postoperative morbidity and mortality, all diagnostic and surgical codes registered in the NPR for health care contacts within 30 days of surgery were analysed. The patients retrieved from the NPR were matched with the CDR to identify any deaths occurring within 30 days of the surgery. Results: A total of 51 746 adenoidectomies were included in this study. No deaths related to adenoidectomy were identified. All types of haemorrhagic complications were rare. Only 0.1% of the surgeries resulted in an outpatient contact due to postoperative haemorrhage and only 0.1% of the adenoidectomies resulted in a readmission due to haemorrhage. The rarest haemorrhagic complication was RTT (return to theatre), with only 4 events (0.01%). Postoperative haemorrhage was most frequent on the first day after surgery. Other complications were rare as well, requiring a total of 922 (2.6%) outpatient visits and 75 (0.2%) readmissions in the adenoidectomy group, with postoperative infection being the most commonly reported. Conclusions: Overall, adenoidectomy should be considered a safe surgical procedure associated with few postoperative complications. No deaths related to adenoidectomy were found. Severe complications, such as late postoperative haemorrhage after adenoidectomy, were rare, and haemorrhage resulting in RTT was even rarer. The highest rate of postoperative haemorrhage was observed the first day after surgery, and most haemorrhagic complications occurred within a week. Comparisons with studies on tonsil surgery show that adenoidectomy is associated with substantially lower postoperative morbidity.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier Ireland Ltd , 2022. Vol. 163, article id 111335
Keywords [en]
Adenoidectomy; Complication; Hemorrhage; Morbidity; Mortality
National Category
Anesthesiology and Intensive Care
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-190094DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2022.111335ISI: 000877614600008PubMedID: 36265351OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-190094DiVA, id: diva2:1712725
Note

Funding Agencies|Futurum, Academy for Health and Care, Region Jonkopings lan

Available from: 2022-11-22 Created: 2022-11-22 Last updated: 2026-04-15
In thesis
1. Pediatric Tonsil and Adenoid Surgery: Epidemiology, Surgical Outcomes, and Patient‑Reported Measures
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Pediatric Tonsil and Adenoid Surgery: Epidemiology, Surgical Outcomes, and Patient‑Reported Measures
2026 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Tonsil and adenoid surgery are among the most commonly performed pediatric procedures in Sweden, yet important knowledge gaps remain regarding indications, outcomes, complication risks, and the associated patient‑reported symptom burden. The overarching aim of this thesis was to examine key aspects of contemporary clinical practice related to pediatric tonsil and adenoidectomy surgery in Sweden, with focus on epidemiology, safety, surgical outcomes, and the development and validation of a Swedish version of a pediatric patient‑reported outcome measure (PROM). The thesis comprises four studies based on register data, clinical outcome analyses, and psychometric validation.

Paper I mapped the national epidemiology of pediatric adenoidectomy between 2004 and 2013 using data from the National Patient Register. Hypertrophy was the most common indication, and combined adenotonsillar surgery was the most common procedure. Adenoidectomy was performed mainly in children aged 2-5 years, with higher incidence among boys.

Paper II examined postoperative morbidity and mortality following adenoidectomy in 51,746 procedures performed between 2007 and 2017. Late postoperative hemorrhage was rare, late bleeding events requiring return to theatre were exceptionally uncommon, and no deaths attributable to adenoidectomy were identified, confirming that the procedure is highly safe in the Swedish context.

Paper III evaluated postoperative bleeding, revision surgery, and caregiver‑reported symptom relief following 1,810 cold steel tonsillotomy procedures with or without adenoidectomy over a 10‑year period. The technique demonstrated low rates of postoperative bleeding, acceptable revision rates, and high caregiver‑reported symptom improvement. At the same time, the technique keeps instrument costs low and reduces environmental impact by avoiding disposable devices and advanced equipment.

Paper IV translated and validated the Paediatric Throat Disorders Outcome Test (T‑14) into Swedish. The instrument demonstrated strong known‑groups validity, an acceptable model fit in confirmatory factor analysis, good internal consistency, and high responsiveness to postoperative changes. The Swedish T‑14 enables structured pre‑ and postoperative assessment of symptom burden and demonstrates potential value for both clinical practice and future research.

Together, the findings demonstrate that pediatric adenoidectomy and cold‑steel tonsillotomy are safe procedures with low complication rates in routine clinical care. The thesis highlights important gaps in national outcome monitoring, particularly the lack of preoperative patient‑reported measures. The findings and the instrument presented may contribute to more informed evaluation, follow‑up, and clinical decision‑making in pediatric adenotonsillar surgery.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Linköping: Linköping University Electronic Press, 2026. p. 88
Series
Linköping University Medical Dissertations, ISSN 0345-0082 ; 2025
Keywords
Adenoidectomy, Tonsillotomy, Pediatric otolaryngology, Postoperative hemorrhage, Patient‑reported outcome measures, T‑14
National Category
Oto-rhino-laryngology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-222887 (URN)10.3384/9789181184105 (DOI)9789181184099 (ISBN)9789181184105 (ISBN)
Public defence
2026-05-22, Aulan, Länssjukhuset Ryhov, Jönköping, 13:00
Opponent
Supervisors
Note

Funding: This research was supported by grants from Futurum, the Academy for Healthcare, Jönköping County Council; FORSS, the Research Council of South‑Eastern Sweden; and the Acta Oto‑Laryngologica Foundation. 

Available from: 2026-04-15 Created: 2026-04-15 Last updated: 2026-04-15Bibliographically approved

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