Guideline for a Post-Op Sundae

The January issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery will include a new clinical practice guideline concerning the care and management of children facing tonsillectomy.

The guideline, called "Tonsillectomy in Children," offers advice to clinicians on how best to care for children before, during, and after their operations.

Tonsillectomies, which have been performed for hundreds of years, are extremely common surgical procedures in the United States. Every year, tonsillectomies are performed on more than 530,000 children under the age of 15.

"Tonsillectomy in Children" gives clinicians evidence-based information on how best to identify candidates for tonsillectomy. It also offers guidance regarding the management of children undergoing tonsillectomy and how to counsel and educate families on their child's options. Finally, it tries to give doctors the tools needed to reduce unneeded disparities in care.

According to Richard M. Rosenfeld, M.D., M.P.H., and journal guideline author and consultant, the tonsillectomy guideline, if followed, will create an environment in which the surgery is safer and children with large or infected tonsils can have an improved quality of life.