Epidemiological and therapeutic profile of patients operated on for tonsillar surgery: three-year experience in a a Hospîtal in the Sourthern Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction: The objective of this work was to describe the epidemioclinical and therapeutical profile of patients who underwent tonsillar surgery.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study of patient records of tonsil removals performed between July 2022 and October 2025 at the Ebolowa Regional Hospital. The variables were age, sex, reason for consultation, medical history, indication, surgical technique, antibiotic therapy, complications, and length of hospital stay. Data were processed using SPSS 23 and Excel 2016.

Results: Of 122 ENT surgical from the department, tonsillar surgeries represented 33.6% (n=41). The male-to-female ratio was 0.86. The mean age was 7.6 years. Snoring was the reason for consultation in 19.5% (n=7) of cases. A history of rhinopharyngitis accounted for 48.8% (n=20) of cases. Adenoidectomy was performed in 36.58% (n=15, including 9 nasopharyngeal X-rays and 6 nasofibroscopies). Tonsillar hypertrophy with sleep apnea (n=12; 29.26%) and recurrent tonsillitis (n=10; 24.39%) were the main indications. Extracapsular tonsillectomy was performed in 53.65% (n=22), with 31.7% (n=13) of these combined with adenoidectomy. Adenoidectomy alone accounted for 14.63% (n=6). Antibiotic therapy was beneficial in 28 patients (68.29%). Hospitalization lasted 2 days in 37 patients (90.24%). We noted one injury to the posterior pharyngeal wall and two cases of bleeding. A repeat adenoidectomy was performed 4 months later.

Conclusion: Tonsillar surgery is frequent procedure in our practice but is not without risks.