Development and implementation of the new clinical research program in a rural hospital for children undergoing myringotomies or tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies.

Background & Objective: Pediatric sub-specialty procedures are usually performed in large hospitals by specialists. We aimed to develop a protocol in pediatric patients undergoing bilateral myringotomies (BMT) or tonsillectomies and/or adenoidectomies (T&A) in a rural community hospital. Methodology: An IRB-approved, prospective study was performed at Lexington Medical Center to examine the safety (S), emergence (E), and efficacy (E) (SEE) of an anesthetic protocol in patients under 7 y of age undergoing BMT or T&A. A non-specialist anesthesiology-based team performed the protocol related to SEE. Results: Out of 60 patients enrolled in the study, 4 (6.6%) desaturated (lowest SpO2 87%), and 6 (10%) had poor quality of emergence from anesthesia. The mean times for induction, emergence, and surgery for BMT were 4.8 ± 1.3, 4.2 ± 2.2, and 3.9 ± 1.0 min respectively. The mean times for induction-intubation, emergence-extubation, and surgery for T&A were 9.0 ± 2.9, 12.1 ± 6.8, and 14.6 ± 5.8 min respectively. Conclusion: The development of a clinical research program and study protocol was achieved for pediatric ENT procedures at a rural hospital. We found that Lexington Medical Center had a low incidence of desaturation, good quality of emergence from anesthesia, and efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]