Study finds children with developmental delay undergoing tonsillectomy have heightened complication risks

Children with developmental delay may be at risk for higher complication rates following tonsillectomy compared to children without developmental delay, according to research published in International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. Developmental delay (DD) refers to a broad group of conditions that involve impairments in communication, gross and fine motor skills, problem solving and social interactions. Children with DD often have complex medical histories with comorbidities, increasing their need for more health care treatment than children without DD.

Researchers reviewed chart data from 400 tonsillectomy patients to compare post-operative complication rates between children with and without DD. Of these patients, 56 (13.9%) had a DD diagnosis.

Results showed that patients with DD had a significantly increased risk for post-operative complications and experienced significantly more respiratory complications, such as respiratory arrest and overnight oxygen desaturation. Where 32.14% of patients with DD had a complication after surgery, only 8.72% of patients without DD had a complication. Other complications included post-operative hemorrhage, dehydration and vomiting.