Herstel na ambulante NKO-heelkunde bij kinderen: Systematische review

Also in children various surgical outpatient interventions are carried out, frequently in the area of ear, nose and throat (ENT). They bear a significant impact on the physical and emotional wellbeing of the child. Thus, adequate information about the average postoperative recovery is essential. The purpose of this systematic review is to describe the postoperative recovery of children after most prevalent outpatient ENT surgery (myringotomy, adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy) and the available tools to register this recovery profile. To this end, four different search strategies were used. The database search was combined with the verification of related citations and the consultation of an expert. Finally, the reference lists of the so far included articles were checked. An assessment of the bias risk and the quality of the data collection was carried out based on systematic checklists. Recovery takes about twelve days after tonsillectomy and three days after adenoidectomy, being shorter and less intense after myringotomy. Pain is most severe after tonsillectomy during the first three days post-operatively and continues to be significant until day seven. Other reported expressions of discomfort are nausea and vomiting, problems with food and fluid intake, sleeping disorders, behavioral changes and emotional strain. Methods to record and quantify the postoperative recovery are diverse, self-report by the child constituting the most important one. By means of the described recovery pattern health care providers can inform parents and children appropriately and prevent possible problems.