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Does the level of surgical training influence tonsillectomy outcomes? A prospective randomised study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2025

Shadi Shinnawi Open the ORCID record for Shadi Shinnawi [Opens in a new window] ,
Wisam Matanis ,
Roee Noy ,
Shorook Naara ,
Mauricio Cohen-Vaizer ,
Jacob T. Cohen  and
Arie Gordin
Shadi Shinnawi*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Rambam Healthcare Campus, Haifa, Israel Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
Wisam Matanis
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Rambam Healthcare Campus, Haifa, Israel
Roee Noy
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Rambam Healthcare Campus, Haifa, Israel
Shorook Naara
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Rambam Healthcare Campus, Haifa, Israel
Mauricio Cohen-Vaizer
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Rambam Healthcare Campus, Haifa, Israel
Jacob T. Cohen
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Rambam Healthcare Campus, Haifa, Israel
Arie Gordin
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Rambam Healthcare Campus, Haifa, Israel
*
Corresponding author: Shadi Shinnawi; Email: shadi.shin@gmail.com
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Abstract

Background

Tonsillectomy is a common paediatric procedure with potential morbidity, notably post-operative pain and bleeding. One proposed factor influencing these outcomes is the surgeon’s level of training.

Objective

To evaluate whether surgical training level affects short-term outcomes in paediatric tonsillectomy.

Methods

In a prospective randomised study (2019–2022), outcomes were compared in children undergoing cold dissection tonsillectomy performed by either an attending or a supervised resident. Measured outcomes included duration of analgesia use, time to resume oral intake, length of hospital stay and post-operative bleeding.

Results

A total of 115 children were included in the study, of which 60 (52.2 per cent) were operated on by residents and 55 (47.8 per cent) were operated on by attending surgeons. Baseline characteristics were similar. Operations by attending surgeons were shorter (20.4 vs 29.1 minutes), but no significant differences were found in post-operative pain, diet resumption, length of stay (1.1 days) or bleeding.

Conclusion

Supervised residents achieve comparable outcomes to attending surgeons. Surgical training level does not impact tonsillectomy outcomes under supervision.

Keywords

tonsillectomypaediatricstreatment outcomepost-operative complicationssupervision

Information

Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 140 , Issue 1 , January 2026 , pp. 78 - 81
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED.

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Footnotes

Shadi Shinnawi takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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