Perioperative antibiotic in adenoidectomy with partial tonsillectomy: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES

To examine potential benefits of perioperative antibiotic therapy in children undergoing adenotonsillotomy.

METHODS

Adenoidectomy with tonsillotomy was performed in 124 children with obstructive symptoms, aged 5-7 years. Of these, 120 completed the study. Intraoperative intravenous and postoperative oral clindamycin, or placebo for 7 days, were administered.

RESULTS

There were significant differences between the groups regarding pain intensity (p < 0.001) and duration (p < 0.05), day of return to normal physical activity (p < 0.05), occurrence and duration of oral malodor (p < 0.001), number of doses of additional analgesic (p < 0.001), healing grading (p < 0.05) and parents'/caregivers' satisfaction scores on the 4th postoperative day. There were indications for antibiotic in 2 individuals in the placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS

There are significant differences in the course of convalescence related to perioperative antibiotic in children after adenotonsillotomy, but strict indications for antibiotics in these patients are rare.