Tonsillotomy: An alternative surgical option to total tonsillectomy in children with obstructive sleep apnoea.

BACKGROUND

Total tonsillectomy remains one of the most common ear, nose and throat (ENT) procedures performed in children. General practitioners (GPs) are commonly involved in the referral of children with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Intracapsular tonsilltomy (partial tonsillectomy) is fast becoming a popular surgical option to total tonsillectomy in children with OSA.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this article is to provide information about partial tonsillectomy and its potential benefits over total tonsillectomy in the treatment of children with OSA for referring GPs.

DISCUSSION: Current evidence suggests that partial tonsillectomy is a safe and effective treatment for children with OSA. Partial tonsillectomy has been shown to be associated with a lower incidence of postoperative haemorrhage, faster recovery time and higher parent satisfaction than total tonsillectomy. Furthermore, it has been found to have comparable results to total tonsillectomy in the improvement of OSA symptoms in children.