The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended inpatient monitoring following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for all of the following high-risk patients EXCEPT?
A. Age < 3 years
B. Severe OSA on ploysomnography
C. Cardiac complications of OSA
D. Failure to thrive
E. Obesity
F. Craniofacial anomalies
G. Neuromuscular disorders
H. Respiratory infection less than 6 weeks prior
The answer is H. Only with an active respiratory infection is this required. The American Academy of Pediatrics clinical practice guidelines recommend adenotonsillectomy (T& A) as the first line treatment of OSA in children even without evidence of adenotonsillar hypertrophy. The AAP guidelines describe risk factors for respiratory complications in children with OSA undergoing T& A and recommend inpatient monitoring following T& A for such high-risk patients.