Measuring Quality of Life in Adult Patients with Chronic Tonsillitis

The effects on quality of life (QoL) in adult patients with chronic tonsillitis are multidimensional. Tonsillectomy has been and is still the standard for treating these patients, who fulfil certain clinical criteria, and is thus the main determinant in the change of QoL. The reduction in severity and frequency of symptoms, health care utilization, physician visits and days off work are major factors in the improvement of QoL. Other important aspects are the management of the postoperative pain and the avoidance of post tonsillectomy hemorrhage. Economic benefits of tonsillectomy receive increasing attention as there can be direct associations with the patients’ QoL. Studies concerning the clinical efficacy of tonsillectomy, various techniques in order to achieve the best outcome, postoperative pain relieving measures, methods to minimize postoperative hemorrhage rates, and studies of cost-effectiveness of this intervention will be reviewed and discussed.