A descriptive study comparing the surgical
outcomes between power-assisted adenoidectomy and conventional surgical methods
Navalakhe
M. M.1, Mogre D. A.2
1Dr.
Milind M. Navalakhe, Associate
Professor, 2Dr. Dilesh A. Mogre, Resident, both authors are affiliated
with Department of ENT, B.Y.L. Nair Charitable Hospital and T. N. Medical College,
Mumbai Central, Mumbai, India.
Corresponding
Author: Dr. Milind M Navalakhe, Associate Professor, Department
of ENT, B.Y.L. Nair Charitable Hospital and T.N. Medical College, Mumbai
Central, Mumbai, India. E-mail: drmilindn@gmail.com, damogre@gmail.com
Objective:To
study the surgical outcomes between power assisted and conventional curettage
adenoidectomy.And to perform retrospective analysis by comparing the two
surgical methods on the basis of duration of surgery, intra-operative blood
loss, postoperative complications like bleeding and associated trauma.Design:A retrospective and prospective
study of 100 cases was performed in a tertiary care teaching hospital in
Mumbai. Over 1 year and 8 months. The mean operative time was faster in
conventional method (p<0.0001). Subjects:100 cases. Methods: After selection of cases
retrospective assessment of peri-operative conditions were obtained from case
records duration of surgery, Intraoperative blood loss, Postoperative
complications. The same cases were called for prospective analysis data on
long-term postoperative outcome was obtained by using ‘Paediatric Throat
Disorders Outcome Test’ Result:Our
100 patients ranged from 4 to 27 years with mean age of 10.43 years with SD of
4.24 F : M ratio was 1.17. The operative blood loss between two groups was not
statistically significant (p=0.4901). The symptomatic relief after conventional
surgery and power assisted method was statistically significant (p < 0.0001).
There was no statistical significance between outcomes of both methods. Conclusions: Our study shows that the
power assisted adenoidectomy was a safe, well tolerated procedure and an useful
tool for adenoidectomy with disadvantages of high cost. Conventional
adenoidectomy with a curette is safe, fast and economical. It fails to obtain
complete tissue removal and thus is less effective than the power assisted
techniques.
Keywords:
Adenoidectomy; Conventional Curettage;
Endoscopic surgical procedure; Power assisted adenoidectomy.
“It is true in every surgical department that
our failures cannot fairly be ascribed to the imperfection of our instruments,
but rather to the faulty manipulation with which they are applied.’’ - Dr John
Ward Cousins, BMJ, 1905[1].
The adenoids, also known as the Luschka's
tonsil or the nasopharyngeal tonsil, is a mass of lymphoid tissue located in
the roof of the nasopharynx. The adenoids along with the palatine and lingual
tonsils are an integral part of the Waldeyer’s ring, forming 3 to 5% of the
entire lymphatic system.
The adenoids and tonsils, like other lymphoid
tissues are known to undergo physiological hypertrophy between the ages of 5 to
11 years. Symptomatic adeno-tonsillar hypertrophy is a common disorders in
pediatric population and can cause obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as well as
chronic sinusitis and recurrent otitis media. [2]. Adeno-tonsillar obstruction
of the nasal airway not responding to conservative management is an indication
for surgery. Adenoidectomy was first performed using a ring knife through the
nasal cavity by William Meyer in 1867[3]. Since then the surgical approach to
adenoids has evolved in terms of surgical methods, instruments and anaesthesia
techniques. Adenoidectomy has been conventionally performed with the curettage
method but it is a blind procedure. Endoscopic Adenoidectomy was popularized by
Canon et al. It provides better visualisation of surgical field and prevents
damage to surrounding structures [4].
The present study aims to evaluate the
benefits and the complications of power assisted adenoidectomy and compare it
with conventional curettage methods.
Aims and Objectives
1. To study and compare the surgical outcomes
between power assisted and conventional curettage adenoidectomy.
2. To perform retrospective analysis by
comparing the two surgical methods on the basis of :
a) Duration of surgery
b) Intra-operative blood loss
c) Postoperative complications like bleeding and
associated trauma [if any].
Materials and Methods
Study
Design: Retrospective and Prospective study.
Setting:
Tertiary care teaching hospital in Mumbai.
Study
Period:1 year and 8 months.
Retrospective analysis from January 2014 to
January 2015
Prospective assessment from February 2015
till September 2015
Sample
Size: 100 cases
Inclusion Criteria
Patients who underwent adenoidectomy power
assisted or conventional as a part of their treatment in a tertiary care
teaching hospital for various reasons like:
A.Chronic
adenotonsillitis
B.Lack
of response to medical treatment and requiring adenoidectomy.
2.
Obtaining written informed consent and informed assent from parents or
guardian.
Exclusion criteria
1.
Patients with a history of
prior nasal or oral surgery to eliminate pre-existing surgical variables.
2.
Unwillingness to give
written informed consent and informed assent from parents or guardian.
This study was approved by the institutional
ethics committee and was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of
Helsinki. A total of 100 consecutive patients who underwent adenoidectomy
between January 2014 to January 2015 for chronic adenotonsillitis at a tertiary care teaching
hospital as a part of treatment of
underlying condition, either with conventional or Power-assisted adenoidectomy
using Microdebrider; who were
Fig-1:
Flow-chart of the study design
similar with respect to age, body mass index
(BMI), Grade of adenoid hypertrophy, American Society of Anesthesiologists
(ASA) score, were selected to be included in the analysis. Group A consisted of
cases undergoing conventional adenoidectomy using curettage method and Group B
undergoing power assisted adenoidectomy.
After selection of cases retrospective
assessment of peri-operative conditions were obtained from case records from
the Medical Record Office of the institute with due permission. Investigations
done as a part of clinical line of management like Anterior and Posterior
rhinoscopy, X-ray soft-tissue nasopharynx and diagnostic nasal endoscopy were
documented along with observation of duration of surgery, Intraoperative blood
loss, Postoperative complications like bleeding and associated trauma if any
from case records from medical records with due permission of authorities.
The same cases were called for prospective
analysis from February 2015 till September 2015 and study was explained and
written informed consent was taken from each patient. Data on long-term
postoperative outcome was obtained by using 14-item ‘Paediatric Throat
Disorders Outcome Test’ conducted six months after surgery. The 14-item
Paediatric Throat Disorders Outcome Test is an appropriate, disease-specific,
parent-reported outcome measure for children with throat disorders [5].
Postoperative surgical outcome for residual
disease was evaluated by a diagnostic nasal endoscopy. The adenoid tissue
hypertrophy was graded by using Parikh et al classification [6]. As per
history, clinical examination and investigations and treatment findings were
tabulated and results interpreted.
The data was analyzed using standard
statistical packages like Graphpad Prism, Version-6.07(Trial). Appropriate
statistical analysis with a two-tailed t test was performed for data that
followed a Gaussian distribution. For data that did not follow a normal
distribution appropriate non-parametric test were used. The significance level
of p< 0.05 was chosen to define statistical significance.
Results
The study population ranged from 4 to 27 years with mean
age of 10.43 years with SD of 4.24 years (95% CI 9.59 to 11.27 years). The
frequency histogram of age distribution in two groups of patients undergoing
adenoidectomy with the two surgical methods has been plotted below (Fig.2). It
shows a majority of population 49% lies between the age group of 5 to 10 and
years followed by 31 % in between 10 to 15 years. Only 2% of the population
aged more than 25 years of age. There was no statistical difference between the
two groups with regard to sex or age (p>0.5).
Fig-2:
Age distribution of the study population
The operative blood loss was 38.96 ml. (SD =
4.88 95% CI 37.57 to 40.35 ml) in patients undergoing power assisted
adenoidectomy, which was almost equal to the 38.32 ml. (SD = 4.34 95% CI 37.09
to 39.55 ml ) blood loss seen in cases undergoing conventional curettage
method, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.4901).
Fig-3:
Comparison of intraoperative blood loss
The mean operative time was 10.00 minutes (SD 1.50, 95%
CI 9.57 to 10.43 min)
Fig-4:
Comparison of Operative time
Comparison of symptomatic relief obtained
after surgical intervention was performed by using the ‘Paediatric Throat
Disorders Outcome Tool’ (T-14) questionnaire score. The preoperative T-14 score
was compared with postoperative T-14 score conducted by interviews completed
six months after the surgical intervention.
Fig-5:
The comparison of preoperative and the 6-month postoperative T-14 scores in
Group A.
In the conventional adenoidectomy group, the
T-14 score improved from the mean preoperative score of 51.26 (SD 1.85 min with
95% CI 48.80 to 53.72) to the mean postoperative score 6-months after surgery
of 17.18 (SD 5.25 with 95% CI 15.69 to 18.67). The non-parametric Mann-Whitney
test showed that the symptomatic relief after conventional surgery was
statistically significant (p < 0.0001); and in the power assisted
adenoidectomy group, the mean preoperative T-14 score of 49.98 (SD 8.25 with
95% CI 47.64 to 52.32) improved to 17.56 (SD 4.85 with 95% CI 16.18 to 18.94)
assessed after the same postoperative period.
The symptomatic relief obtained was
statistically significant (p < 0.0001) with Mann-Whitney test. Although both
surgical methods achieved symptom relief,
Fig-6:
The comparison of preoperative and the 6-month postoperative T-14 scores in
Group B.
no statistical significance was found when
the postoperative T-14 scores were compared for Groups A and B (p = 0.3669) or
in the gain of T-14 scores(fig.7).
Fig-7:
Box plots comparing the gains in T-14 scores of curettage
adenoidectomy
and power-assisted endoscopic adenoidectomy groups (P = 0.4444)
Fig-8:
Comparison of residual adenoid tissue at the end of surgical procedure in the
two groups
Rigid nasal endoscopy performed at the end of
surgical procedure showed that at the end of the procedure 86 % of patients
undergoing power assisted adenoidectomy had a no residual adenoid tissue as
compared to 38 % of patients underwent conventional resection. Only 14 % of
patients undergoing power assisted adenoidectomy had a residual adenoid tissue
of Grade II. Whereas 62 % of cases had residual adenoid tissue after undergoing
conventional curettage adenoidectomy, 56 % with Grade II and 6% with Grade III residual tissue. The
difference between residual adenoid tissue between two groups is statistically
significant by using the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test (p<0.0001.)
No postoperative complications in the form of
excessive postoperative bleeding, Eustachian tube scarring, velopharyngeal
scarring or atlanto-occipital instability were observed in either groups.
Discussion
“ I have sometime on more than one occasion
assured myself, both by sight and touch of the complete clearance of the post
nasal space after operation and yet I have later on noted the gradual regrowth
of adenoid tissue sufficient to call for a second operation…. incomplete
removal is, unfortunately, not uncommon…” Sir St Clair Thompson, BMJ, 1917 [7].
The post-surgical recurrence of adenoids is
described in the literature since the very beginning of its surgical excision.
Studies evaluating conventional adenoidectomy have proved that the removal of
adenoid tissue is often incomplete. Power assisted adenoidectomy is performed
under vision and provides complete resection of adenoid tissue without the risk
of injury to the neighboring nasopharyngeal structures. The present study was
undertaken to compare the surgical outcomes of power assisted adenoidectomy and
conventional adenoidectomy.
The present study as the study population was
retrospective randomization could not done. Patients similar with respect to
age, body mass index (BMI), Grade of adenoid hypertrophy, American Society of
Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, were selected to be included in the analysis.
All patients with a history of prior nasal or oral surgery, incomplete
preoperative information was excluded from analysis.
Studies have concluded that adenoid
hypertrophy is common in children. Pagella et al studied a cohort of 795
pediatric patients and showed that adenoid hypertrophy was more common in
patients with allergy sensitization, in particular in patients aged 8-14 years.
They also demonstrated a significant association among pathological adenoid
hypertrophy, age, and nasal obstruction [8]. Only 2% of the study population
was above the age of 25 years. The incidence of adult adenoid hypertrophy is
uncommon but increasing, because of allergy, chronic infection, pollution and
rarely malignancy [9]. There was no statistical difference between the two
groups with regard to sex or age (P>0.5).
The mean operative time for conventional
adenoidectomy in the present study was 10.00 minutes, while power assisted
adenoidectomy took an average of 14.08 minutes. The difference is considered to
be statistically significant (p<0.0001).
The assessment of the operative time included all the steps for performing
powered assisted surgery including time taken for packing and decongestion of
nose with cottonoids soaked in lignocaine and adrenaline, resection of adenoid
tissue and securing haemostasis. As a result, the time taken in the present
series may seem longer than other studies.
According to Al Mazrou et al., 2009; Havas and Lowinger, 2002; a
complete adenoidectomy with a microdebrider was shown to be faster than a
traditional curettage adenoidectomy. Recent review evidenced that operative
time required for complete adenoid tissue resection using the microdebrider
takes around 5 to 6minute. [10,11] Koltai et al. and Rodriguez et al. performed
the adenoidectomy with a microdebrider under an indirect visualization using a
laryngeal mirror, it was shown to be faster than a traditional curettage
adenoidectomy[12,13]. According to Dutta et al, the microdebrider is potentially
a dangerous instrument which should be used under direct and close vision as
that provided through an endoscope [14]. Since the parameters used to define
operative time differ in different studies, the duration of the surgical
procedure are difficult to compare. However, the present study shows that the
power assisted adenoidectomy consumes more time.
Our study means intraoperative blood loss for
both surgical methods was around 38 ml. This is similar to the intraoperative
blood loss findings reported by Bradoo et al[15]. The series by Feng et al
showed that blood loss was more in the conventional adenoidectomy group though
the difference between the groups was not statistically significant [16].
Stanislaw et al however, has reported a significant reduction in blood loss
following endoscopic adenoidectomy[17]. The microdebrider provides an advantage
of a well-controlled dissection reaching to a lesser vascular plane of
nasopharynx, thus reducing the amount of bleeding. This shortens the time required
for hemostasis. Intraoperative bleeding during any transnasal endoscopic
procedure is challenging. The microdebrider provides an efficient
suction-irrigation set up and secures well-controlled resection under clear
endoscopic view [18]. In the restricted area of a child’s nose, the surgeon has
to manage complete surgical clearance and manage problems such as bleeding. The
most bloodless approach to perform endoscopic power assisted adenoidectomy is
to start resection high from the choana and progress in an orderly fashion to
the inferior border of the adenoid bed, with the cutting tip of the
microdebrider in continuous view[19].
Studies
have proved that conventional curettage adenoidectomy, does not achieve
adequate removal of obstructive adenoid tissue in upto one-third of cases. The
factors preventing complete adenoid tissue resection in conventional curettage method
is the presence of intranasal extension of the tissue, or a bulky adenoids
superiorly in the nasopharynx and in the peri-tubal region [20]. The results of
our study show that resection was invariably incomplete with the curettage
method. Only 38% of cases in Group A had complete adenoid resection as compared
to 86% of cases undergoing power assisted adenoidectomy. The degree of adenoid
tissue hypertrophy was estimated using the grading system proposed by Parikh et
al60[6].
Our study showed that only 14% of patients undergoing power assisted
adenoidectomy had a residual adenoid tissue. All the cases in Group A had
residual adenoid tissue of Grade II at the end of the procedure. Whereas, 62%
of patients undergoing conventional curettage surgery had residual adenoid
tissue. 56 % of group A patients had
Grade II residual adenoids and 6% with Grade III residual tissue. The
difference between two groups was shown to be statistically significant by
using Mann-Whitney test (p<0.0001). In the study by Ark et al. Reported that
only one-fifth of the patients undergoing curettage adenoidectomy had no
residual adenoid tissue. Instead, 81% of the patients a residual lymphatic
tissue was still present on the pharyngeal roof and near the choana. 11.4% of
the patients had a residue along the torus tubarius on either side of the
nasopharynx and in 6.3% the residual tissue was located at both cited sites [21].
Factors affecting the surgical outcomes of conventional curette adenoidectomy
are the extension of adenoid tissue into the choana and the rounded contour of
roof and posterior wall of the nasopharynx which does not match the perfectly
cutting edge of the curette. In power assisted adenoidectomy, the curved blade
properly fits into the nasopharynx. The use of endoscopic visualization of the
nasopharynx provides excellent illumination and focus which optimizes precision
in the removal of adenoid tissue. The power assisted technique, resection of
residual adenoid tissue around the choana, posterior part of the nasal passage
and torus tubarius is well executed. Minimizing the risk of injury to the
neighboring nasopharyngeal structures and pharyngeal muscles. The complete
resection provided by power assisted adenoidectomy results in a better chance
of resolving any disease process related to the presence of adenoid tissue [22].
Any residual adenoid tissue has the potential to hypertrophy, which may subject
the patient to the recurrence of symptoms, and eventually the need for revision
surgery. This study has shown that power assisted adenoidectomy decreases the
risk of recurrence of residual adenoid hypertrophy and provides completeness to
the surgical procedure of adenoidectomy.
The Comparison of symptomatic relief obtained
after surgical intervention was performed by using the ‘Paediatric Throat
Disorders Outcome Tool’ (T-14) questionnaire score. The preoperative score was
compared with the postoperative score based on interviews completed six months
after the surgical intervention. The difference between preoperative and
postoperative scores was considered significant (p>0.0001). However, the
difference in postoperative scores comparing the outcomes of power assisted and
conventional adenoidectomy was not statistically significant. Similar findings
have been reported by Öztürk, in their study [23]. The difference between the
pre and postoperative scoring of symptoms in the two groups did not reach
statistical significance, because an adenoid mass becomes symptomatic only when
more than approximately 50% of the postnasal space has been obstructed [24].
Our study does not report damage to
nasopharyngeal structures following adenoidectomy. However there is always a
fear of trauma to the torus tubarius especially in curettage method leading to
subsequent scarring and eustachian tube dysfunction. In power assisted
adenoidectomy, there is an increased risk of nasal mucosal injuries.
The use of rigid endoscope has its advantages
like good visualization which ensures complete removal of adenoid tissue
situated in hard to reach areas of the nasopharynx without damaging surrounding
structures. When adenoidectomy is performed transnasally there is no need to
extend the neck especially in patients with instability of cervical spine [25].
The camera attachment allows for magnified view, facilitating recording as well
as training.
The recognized disadvantage of power-assisted
adenoidectomy is the increased patient charge associated with the use of
disposable instrumentation. The elimination of pathological review of routine
adenoid specimens, as the specimens are too traumatized to provide the
microscopic detail necessary to make diagnosis. This may provide a means of
offsetting the increased charge by 62%[26]. Learning to pass both the scope and
debrider blade through the narrow paediatric nose presents a challenge to the
novice. As with any new surgical technique, there is a learning curve to
endoscopic-assisted adenoidectomy, Initially, the surgery appears to take more
time but results demonstrate a trend toward decrease in the time of the
procedure with experience; Bradoo et al[15]. The Indian scenario presents a
situation where availability of the equipment is also a factor in choosing the
method of surgery. Though nasal endoscopes are fast becoming basic tools,
powered instrumentation like microdebriders are still not commonly found in
many setups[14].
This study draws attention towards key
aspects in the surgical management of adenoid hypertrophy. Endoscopic surgery
has become an integral part of Otolaryngology and thus endoscopic power
assisted adenoidectomy is a natural evolution of this technology.
In our study, the method of power assisted
adenoidectomy was a safe, well tolerated procedure and an useful tool for
adenoidectomy. It has advantages of completeness of resection, accurate
removal, less collateral damage, lesser postoperative pain and faster recovery.
The disadvantages of power-assisted adenoidectomy are the high cost and
inability to provide good quality tissue for histopathological diagnosis.
Conventional adenoidectomy with a curette is safe, fast and economical. Though
it is a blind procedure, it may achieve the desired symptom relief in many
patients. However, it fails to obtain complete tissue removal and thus is less
effective than the power assisted techniques.
Acknowledgements-
We thank our Dean Dr R. N. Bharmal for his
constant support and encouragement.
References