The efficacy of antibiotic therapy on recovery of tonsilectomy and adenotonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy is one of the most frequent operations performed in ENT practice. Mortality and morbidity associated with tonsillectony and adentonosillectomy include severe otalgia, pyrexia, odynophagia, dysphasia, hemorrhage, upper air way obstruction, nasopharyngeal stenosis, infection, and finally death. A randomized clinical trial study was undertaken in 2004 in Emam_Reza hospital of Mashhad to determine the efficacy of profilactic antibiotic therapy in reducing complications of tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy. A total of 200 patients who had undergone tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy for chronic / recurrent tonsillitis or adenotonsillar hypertrophy were included 100 patients receive antibiotic in the form of amoxicillin for seven days postoperatively (case group), another 100 patients did not receive antibiotic postoperatively (control group). In the control group 49% were males and 51% were females. In the case group 55% were males and 45% were females. In the control group 3% were less than 3 years and 16% between 3 and 7 years 44% between 7 and 12 years, and 37% were over 12. In the case group 1% was under 3 years, 23% between 3 and 7 years, 49% between 7 and 12 and 27% patients were over 12. All of the patients were postoperatively examined 24 hours and one week later to check the occurrence of fever, pain, hemorrhage, infection, wound healing, general condition, progression to solid diet, activity, and hospital readmission. Statistically, there were no significant differences between the two groups in regard to fever, infection, hemorrhage, readmission, wound healing, general condition and pain (P>0.05) Antibiotic therapy is not recommended routinely to all patients that undergo tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy unless postoperative infection occurs.