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Objective: To determine variables predictive of recovery room times in pediatric outpatient adenotonsillectomy., Study Design: Retrospective case-control., Methods: One-hundred ninety consecutive patients undergoing outpatient adenotonsillectomy at an ambulatory surgery center of a tertiary-care free standing pediatric hospital were grouped into upper and lower deciles of recovery room times. Twenty-one variables were analyzed to determine which variables are predictive of prolonged recovery time. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed., Results: Of the 190 patients, mean recovery room time was 103 min (SD 53.1), 22 patients were in the lower decile (mean recovery room time of 63 ± 6 min) and 17 patients were in the upper decile (155 ± 40 min, P<0.0001). Of the 21 variables analyzed, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nursing staff was the only significant predictor of prolonged recovery room time. Compared with one PACU nurse, other nurses (N=5) predicted a longer recovery time (OR=10.8, 95% CI 2.0-59.5, P=0.0017). This association remained significant when controlling for anesthesiologist and surgeon (OR=8.8, 95% CI 1.5-50.9, P=0.0072). There were no complications in any patients., Conclusions: Recovery room times after outpatient adenotonsillectomy vary significantly (mean 103 min (SD 53.1), range 50-241 min). Of potential predictors, only the human factor (PACU nursing staff) was associated with prolonged recovery room times, independent of surgeon and anesthesiologist. Development of standardized protocols for nurses to use for discharge has the potential to increase throughput for adenotonsillectomy patients in an outpatient surgery center setting., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine polysomnographic (PSG) variables that may potentially predict adverse respiratory events after pediatric adenotonsillectomy., Design: Retrospective, case-control study., Setting: Free-standing academic tertiary-care pediatric hospital., Patients: The study included 1131 patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy by 2 attending surgeons. There were no exclusion criteria., Main Outcome Measures: Variables from preoperative PSGs were analyzed to determine predictors of postoperative respiratory complications. Logistic regression analysis was performed., Results: A total of 151 patients (13.4%) underwent preoperative PSG. Twenty-three of these patients (15.2%) had adverse respiratory events. The primary adverse event was desaturation requiring supplemental oxygen therapy, with 1 case of postobstructive pulmonary edema. Patients with adverse events had a significantly higher apnea-hypopnea index) (31.8 vs 14.1; P = .001), higher hypopnea index (22.6 vs 8.9; P = .004), higher body mass index (z score, 1.43 vs 0.70; P = .02), and lower nadir oxygen saturation (72% vs 84%; P <.001). Patients with adverse events had a prolonged hospital course (odds ratio, 32.1; 95% confidence interval, 7.8-131.4). There were no differences in age or other PSG variables. There were no intubations or mortalities., Conclusions: Polysomnography may be used to predict which patients are at higher risk for adverse respiratory events after adenotonsillectomy. Such knowledge is valuable for planning optimal postoperative management and intraoperative anesthesia. Predictors of increased respiratory complications include apnea-hypopnea index, hypopnea index, body mass index, and nadir oxygen saturation.