Surgical management of the tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy patient

tp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wjorl.20 95-8811/Copyright a 2017 Chinese d. This is an open access article un Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy were developed hundreds of years ago, but they enjoyed wide popularity beginning in the early 20th century as a preventive treatment of Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) pharyngotonsillitis and its feared complication rheumatic heart disease. During that era, many children underwent tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy that was not indicated due to a negative history of streptococcal infection, but became surgical candidates because another family member suffered frequent streptococcal disease or worse rheumatic heart disease. Development of potent antibiotics, specifically penicillin, altered the treatment of recurrent streptococcal disease, and decreased the incidence of rheumatic fever and heart disease. Along with a decrease in the incidence of