Day case adenoidectomy: is it safe?

OBJECTIVE To document the Clinical outcome of Day Case Adenoidectomy in Children in a Nigerian tertiary health Institution and a private Ear, Nose and Throat Consultant Cinic. METHODOLOGY This is a prospective study of twenty eight children without any co-morbid condition operated for adenoidectomy between June 2002 and May 2004. The patients were admitted on the day of surgery and discharged within 12 hours post surgery. RESULT A total number of 28 patients were operated for adenoidectomy. 16 children were treated as planned day cases and 12 were treated as inpatients. 50% of the patients were in the age group of 2-4 years. There were 12 males and 4 females with a M:F ratio of 3: 1. All the parents of the patients had access to cars and 75% resided within 30 minutes of travelling time from the hospital. CONCLUSION Day case adenoidectomy is relatively safe and may prove advantageous considering long surgical waiting lists, preventing Hospital acquired infection and minimizing cost of hospitalization.