gms | German Medical Science

76th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery

04.05. - 08.05.2005, Erfurt

Postoperative antibiotic treatment after abscess tonsillectomy - is it mandatory?

Meeting Abstract

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Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie. 76. Jahresversammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie e.V.. Erfurt, 04.-08.05.2005. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2005. Doc05hno209

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/hno2005/05hno042.shtml

Published: September 22, 2005

© 2005 Knipping et al.
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Outline

Text

Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a common but serious complication of acute exsudative tonsillitis. For initial treatment different guidelines have been described and the management is still controversial. We performed a randomized prospective study to answer the question: Are antibiotics postoperatively after abscess tonsillectomy mandatory?

From January 1996 to December 2003 283 patients (98 female and 185 male, age range 2-72 years) were treated by performing an abscess tonsillectomy for PTA at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of the MLU Halle Wittenberg. After randomization group 1 was treated postoperatively with benzylpenicillin. In the controll group antibiotics were omited. We evaluated postoperatively scores for pain, swallowing disorders and well-being. Additionally, laboratory parameters such as CRP, leukocytes and antistreptolysin titer were detected. Blood cultures were collected.

Concerning the age the highest incidence of PTA was observed in the second and third decades. Most patients were seen from June to August. In our study the abscess tonsillectomy was performed in 283 cases. This procedure is considered to be safe and easy without serious complication rates. We assessed no significant differences in the subjective as well as the laboratory parameters with or without antibiotic treatment after abscess tonsillectomy. The blood cultures showed no evidence for bacteriemia.

We conclude that immediately performed abscess tonsillectomy is an effective and safe treatment for peritonsillar abscess. An postoperative antibiotic treatment after abscess tonsillectomy seems to hav`nt remarkable effects on the postoperative course and outcome. More clinically studies are required to confirm this tendency.