Comparing Healthcare Utilization Between Adenotonsillectomy Patients With and Without Postoperative Antibiotic Use

The objective for this trial is to provide evidence that not prescribing postoperative antibiotics increases the number of phone calls to the physician, increases the number of emergency department/urgent care/clinic visits in the postoperative period, and increases medical diagnostic costs (ie: labwork, cultures, x-rays). Additionally, the investigators aim to provide evidence that a higher percentage of patients not given a prescription for antibiotics will ultimately obtain a prescription from another provider.

One of the most common surgical procedures performed in the pediatric population is tonsillectomy. The term "tonsillectomy" refers to the surgical excision of the entire tonsil tissue and may or may not include excision of the adenoid tissue as well. Typical symptoms following surgery are pain, malaise, and fever among others. Otolaryngologists for many years have prescribed antibiotics postoperatively based on early randomized controlled trials that suggested a benefit in improved recovery. A recent poll showed that 79% of otolaryngologists routinely prescribe antibiotics to reduce postoperative morbidity and not for antibiotic prophylaxis. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAOHNSF) recently published an evidenced-based Clinical Practice Guideline for tonsillectomy in children in which the routine use of postoperative antibiotics was evaluated. Evaluation of more recent literature showed that routine use of post-operative antibiotics does not show benefit in improving the main measures of perioperative morbidity . Multiple individual trials showed that antibiotic use had no impact on pain, amount of analgesic use, recovery time, or time required to return to a normal diet. However, routine antibiotic use for prevention of postoperative fever remains in controversy and has shown benefit in two trials and while showing no benefit in two different trials. Considering the lack of supporting evidence of benefit in reducing postoperative morbidity, the AAOHNSF has issued a strong recommendation against the routine administration of postoperative antibiotics for tonsillectomy.

The investigators experience as a very busy pediatric surgical service is that in the 1-2 weeks following tonsillectomy, physicians and clinics commonly receive phone calls from concerned parents regarding local and referred pain, bad breath, and fever. Despite patient education at several steps during the process, parental phone calls regarding postoperative fever remain common. While post-operative fever is known to occur following tonsillectomy, management of this issue on the phone, sometimes over the weekend, can be challenging. Children are often in pain, more tired than usual, and not eating well. Even though these are all anticipated symptoms, when they occur with fever, it is difficult to provide adequate reassurance to a concerned parent. Often parents think their child has an infection and are expecting that their provider will start an antibiotic. From the clinician perspective, it can be difficult to discern whether or not there is a concurrent illness that should be evaluated. As a result, parents often bring their children to an urgent care clinic, emergency department, or physician clinic for evaluation and may eventually obtain an antibiotic prescription for their complaints to cover a possible infection.

While routine use of antibiotics does not show benefit in improving many of the main elements of morbidity, controversy remains regarding reduction of postoperative fever. When a fever occurs in a child who is not taking an antibiotic, parents often become concerned about an infection and desire an antibiotic and further evaluation. The concern of the parent in some cases leads to unnecessary visits to emergency departments, urgent care clinics, and physician clinics for evaluation. The workup performed in the evaluation of these patients may include complete blood count, chest x-ray, urinalysis, and urine cultures. Ultimately, the patient may be given an empiric antibiotic prescription. To date there has been no literature documenting healthcare utilization compared between patients who were given antibiotics and those who were not given antibiotics. The goal of this study is to evaluate healthcare utilization and patient/caregiver burden between these groups. If increased healthcare utilization and patient/caregiver burden is found in the "no antibiotic" group, then analysis of the type of utilization and outcome will direct future efforts to improve patient education regarding postoperative morbidity or possibly to continue routinely administering post operative empiric antibiotics. This will benefit in the effort to improve patient satisfaction with surgery, reduce unnecessary healthcare costs, and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.