Objectives: Although adenotonsillectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the pediatric population, there is little known about its impact on Health-related Quality of Life (HRQL). The aim of this study was to measure children's HRQL-benefit after adenotonsillectomy.
Design and setting: The study was carried out as a retrospective postal survey utilising a proxy rating.
Participants: In total, 447 parents of children who underwent adenotonsillectomy for the indication of chronic tonsillitis were included. 43% (n = 191) of the parents returned completed surveys.
Main outcome measures: To quantify the benefit after pediatric adenotonsillectomy the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory (GCBI) was used.
Results: Mean GCBI-total score was 21 +/- 19 (-8 to 77), showing an improvement in all GCBI subscales.
Conclusions: Adenotonsillectomy is a highly effective approach to treat children with tonsil disease. It has a positive impact on children's HRQL and other areas not directly associated with their tonsil disease. Moreover, this improvement in HRQL is durable and not temporary.