Tonsillectomy Not Always Cost-Effective for Kids' ThroatWoes

Tonsillectomy Not Always Cost-Effective for Kids' ThroatWoes
MONDAY, Nov. 19 (HealthDay News) -- In children with mild to moderatesymptoms of throat infection, surgery to remove the tonsils is moreexpensive, but not necessarily more beneficial, compared to simplywatching and waiting to see if symptoms resolve, a Dutch study finds.
Between 2000 and 2003, researchers at the University Medical CenterUtrecht compared 151 children, ages 2 to 8, who were assigned to haveadenotonsillectomy (removal of tonsils and adenoids) within six weeks and149 children assigned to watchful waiting, which involved close monitoringand interventions as necessary. Follow-ups were conducted at three, six,12, 18 and 24 months.
Annual costs averaged about $500 per child per year in the watchfulwaiting group, compared with about $730 (46 percent more) in the surgerygroup. Children who had surgery had fewer fevers, throat infections andrespiratory tract infections than those in the watchful waiting group.
"Overall, the balance between costs and effects in this populationseemed unfavorable for adenotonsillectomy, with incrementalcost-effectiveness ratios in excess of $423 per disease episode averted,"the study authors wrote.
"Note that this estimate includes societal costs such as parental leaveof absence associated with their child's illness. Had these costs beenleft out of the equation, the figures would be even somewhat lessfavorable. With time, the child's immune system matures, and thedifference in adverse episodes disappears. Thus, the initial costincrement in the adenotonsillectomy group will never be counterbalanced bya continued positive health effect," they concluded.
The study was published in the November issue of the journalArchives of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery.
More information
The American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery hasmore about tonsils and adenoids.