Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2024 Feb;67(2):92-98. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2022.01214.

A Study of Association Between Initiating Time of Oral Feeding and Development of Postoperative Complications After Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy Operation In Children

• Kim SJ
• Kim JH
• Kang BC
• Lee TH
• Nam JG

• KMID: 2552828
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2022.01214

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Tonsillectomy is one of the most common operative procedures performed in children by otolaryngologists. However, many surgeons demand excessive fasting from their patients for the fear of pulmonary aspiration and postoperative bleeding after surgery. This study was performed to investigate the effect of early feeding after tonsillectomy on acute postoperative pain, vomiting and postoperative bleeding in children.
Subjects and Method
Data were collected via retrospective medical chart review. A total of 121 patients under the age of 12, who underwent tonsillectomy along with adenoidectomy in our hospital, were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the time of first water or liquid intake and first diet, respectively. Operation time, anesthesia time, state of appetite at the beginning of a soft diet, degree of postoperative pain, the requirement of intravenous analgesics and incidence of vomiting during hospitalization and incidence of postoperative bleeding were compared.
Results
There was no significant difference in the degree of pain, the requirement of intravenous analgesics, the incidence of vomiting or postoperative bleeding according to the time of first water or liquid intake. In addition, there was no difference in the degree of appetite and pain, the requirement of intravenous analgesics, incidence of vomiting or postoperative bleeding according to the time of first diet.
Conclusion
Initiating feeding as early as possible after tonsillectomy does not appear to increase acute postoperative pain, vomiting or postoperative bleeding.

Keyword

Adenoidectomy; Fasting; Postoperative complications; Respiratory aspiration; Tonsillectomy