The directive urges doctors to stop prescribing antibiotics and codeine for tonsillectomies



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Photo by Ron B. Mitchell

Ron B. Mitchell

The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation has made strong recommendations against the use of codeine and perioperative antibiotics in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy.

Ron B. Mitchell, MD, Chair of the Recommendations Update Group and Director of the Otolaryngology Division of Children's Health, Infectious Diseases in Children that the guideline now includes a "considerable amount" of information on education, counseling and pain management.

"The information is updated with the best evidence available on indications of tonsillectomy and management of children before, during and after surgery," Mitchell said. "It is very important to follow the key action instructions of the guideline, as this will ensure the highest quality of care for children undergoing tonsillectomy."

For example, physicians should use a "vigilant monitoring" approach to treatment rather than immediately treating children with recurrent throat infection, particularly if the child has had fewer than seven episodes in year, less than five episodes per year in the last 2 years or less than three episodes per year in the last 3 years. In addition, a single intraoperative dose of dexamethasone should be administered to children undergoing tonsillectomy, as well as ibuprofen, acetaminophen or both, to relieve pain after the procedure.

The authors of the recommendation strongly recommended not prescribing or administering perioperative antibiotics to children undergoing the procedure.

Mitchell said that the prescription of perioperative antibiotics is a "common but not universal practice".

"The evidence that systematic use of antibiotics with tonsillectomy is contraindicated is overwhelming," he said. "It's based on a lot of data, including a meta-badysis of studies done in the US and elsewhere."

The authors also strongly advised against giving codeine to children 12 years of age or younger or any codeine-containing medicine after tonsillectomy.

They noted that 289,000 outpatient tonsillectomies were performed annually in children 15 years of age and younger, and that the updated guideline was intended for any clinician interacting with patients 18 years of age or younger who may be candidates for treatment. ;intervention. – by Katherine Bortz

Disclosures: Mitchell does not report any relevant financial information. Please refer to the guideline for the relevant financial information of all other authors.

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