Complications of Adenotonsillectomy Surgery: Analysis of Pediatric Down Syndrome Patients in a Tertiary Center.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to compare and discuss the characteristics and complications of adenoidectomy and adenotonsillectomy surgeries in Down syndrome and healthy children with a large patient series.

METHODS

Children with Down syndrome (group 1) and Nonsyndromic (group 2) children who had undergone adenoidectomy/adenotonsillectomy surgery participated in the study. The patients' age, sex, type of surgery performed, indication for surgery, postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) management history, postoperative bleeding, history of readmission to the hospital, presence of postoperative Grisel syndrome, length of stay in the hospital, and/or ICU were recorded and compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The number of patients with Grisel syndrome and ICU management postoperatively was statistically higher in group 1 than in group 2. (P<0.01) In addition, group 1 patients had a significantly longer hospital stay (P<0.01). There was a statistically significantly higher number of patients with Grisel syndrome among the patients needing postoperative ICU management as compared with the patients who did not need (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Parents should be thoroughly informed that children with Down syndrome may need to stay longer postoperatively and may need to be followed up in the intensive care unit. The need for ICU management is a risk factor for having Grisel syndrome postoperatively.