The effect of tonsillotomy on chronic recurrent tonsillitis in children.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to determine whether partial tonsillectomy (tonsillotomy) impacts the occurrence of acute or recurrent tonsillitis in children. METHODS: One hundred and eighty patients (1-14 years) were retrospectively surveyed by a questionnaire or by data analysis of a regional database. Subjects who suffered from severe systemic diseases or immunodeficiency syndromes were excluded. Episodes of acute tonsillitis before and after surgery, rate of antibiotic treatment, postoperative hemorrhage, and re-operation were obtained. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients suffered from preoperative tonsillitis. The rate of reinfection was 9.8%. The frequency of tonsillitis was significantly reduced in children after tonsillotomy (p < .001). Further, tonsillotomy led to a significant reduction of antibiotic treatment (p < .001). The rate of definitive tonsillectomy was 1.1% and thus effectiveness was very high. About 1.7% of all children suffered from postoperative bleeding, of which one (0.6%) required surgical revision. None of the bleedings was life threatening. CONCLUSIONS: Tonsillotomy is beneficial for patients with recurrent tonsillitis and carries less risk of postoperative complications than tonsillectomy.