Effects of adenoidectomy in children with symptoms of adenoidal hypertrophy

The purpose of this study was to compare the preoperative symptoms of children who had adenoid hypertrophy with postadenoidectomy symptoms. Sixty children undergoing adenoidectomy were included in this prospective uncontrolled study at the Farabi Hospital of Karadeniz Technical University, an academic tertiary medical center. The symptoms of each child were described by their parents. Adenoidectomy with myringotomy alone or with tympanostomy tube placement was performed in all children. Two months after the operation, the children were re-evaluated for remaining or residual symptoms. Nasal obstruction, mouth breathing, snoring, hearing loss and nasal discharge were present preoperatively in 55 (91.6%), 51 (85%), 50 (83%), 28 (46%) and 45 (75%), respectively. We found that 53 of 60 children (88.3%) completely recovered from their preoperative symptoms. Of the remaining seven patients, four had persistent nasal obstruction, five mouth breathing, three snoring and two hearing loss. We also noted that the parents of 53 of 60 children were satisfied after the operation. Adenoidectomy provided significant relief and improvement of preoperative presenting symptoms, and it also showed a high rate of parent satisfaction.