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Acute tonsillectomy in the management of infectious mononucleosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

D. S. Stevenson ,
G. Webster  and
I. A. Stewart
D. S. Stevenson*
Affiliation:
Dunedin, New Zealand
G. Webster
Affiliation:
Dunedin, New Zealand
I. A. Stewart
Affiliation:
Dunedin, New Zealand
*
Dept. of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TH. Fax: 021 627 2302
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Abstract

Life-threatening upper airway obstruction can be caused by tonsillopharyngitis secondary to infectious mononucleosis (IM). The administration of corticosteroids, emergency tracheostomy and acute tonsillectomy have been advocated as ways of managing this problem. In a series of 25 patients admitted over a five-year period with IM, 15 were judged to have symptoms severe enough to warrant the administration of corticosteroids. Six of these 15 patients had little improvement in their condition and thus underwent acute tonsillectomy. There were no significant complications of this surgery. A further three patients who received corticosteroids required tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis later in the study period. By contrast, only one of the ten patients who did not receive corticosteroids subsequently required tonsillectomy. Acute tonsillectomy is of value in selected cases of IM tonsillopharyngitis. It may decrease the morbidity of recurrent tonsillitis after IM, in addition to averting the immediate risk of respiratory obstruction.

Keywords

Infectious mononucleosisTonsillectomy
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 106 , Issue 11 , November 1992 , pp. 989 - 991
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1992

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