Advanced Methods are Making the Most Effective Treatment - a Tonsillectomy - More Comfortable for KidsALEXANDRIA, Va., May 24, 2005 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Survey results released today show
that eight out of 10 parents are unaware that attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD) and obesity can be consequences of neglecting common childhood
sleep disorders such as snoring and pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. More
than 80 percent of parents also did not know that a tonsillectomy is the most
effective treatment for sleep disordered breathing issues. Studies reveal
that newer options can make the procedure less painful -- and the recovery
quicker -- than ever before.
The findings, determined by a Harris Interactive(R) survey, kick off a
joint educational effort by the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and
Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), which represents the nation's 12,000 otolaryngologists
-- head and neck surgeons, and ArthroCare(R) Corp., developer of patented
Coblation(R) technology, to identify public misperceptions about
tonsillectomy. The survey was funded by an unrestricted educational grant
from ArthroCare; the findings will be incorporated into the AAO-HNS annual
educational campaign for pediatric ear, nose and throat disorders.
"The survey results support what I find in my practice every day -- that
most parents are not well educated about sleep problems in children or that
tonsillectomy is the best treatment for problems like excessive snoring and
pediatric obstructive sleep apnea," said Dr. Jay Dolitsky, clinical associate
professor of otolaryngology at New York Medical College and former director of
pediatric otolaryngology at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.
The survey uncovered the top five misconceptions about this leading
treatment for children's obstructive sleep disorders:
* Doctors don't remove tonsils anymore. Approximately
600,000 tonsillectomies are performed each year for children and
adults. According to the AAO-HNS, it is the second most common
childhood surgery.
* Tonsils are mainly removed for sore throats and tonsillitis.
Seventy-five percent of tonsillectomies are performed to treat
obstructive sleep disorders.
* A child will be in pain for up to two weeks after a tonsillectomy.
Several studies show that advanced low-temperature technology, called
Coblation, reduces pain after surgery compared to older,
high-temperature technology such as electrocautery.
* Children can only eat ice cream after a tonsillectomy.
Low-temperature technology is allowing children to return to a normal
diet three times faster on average when compared to hot technology
such as electrocautery.
* Tonsillectomies have been performed the same way for decades.
Scalpels and high temperature technology are still used, but according
to a study published recently in Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck
Surgery, the advent of low-temperature technology in the last several
years has been shown to improve patient recovery when compared to
electrocautery.
The survey also confirmed that more than 90 percent of parents would
prefer a quicker, less painful recovery for their child if they must undergo a
tonsillectomy.
Dolitsky indicates there are several options available for tonsillectomy.
Physicians first performed the procedure with a scalpel and continue to do so
today. Electrocautery, developed early in the last century, uses intense heat
to remove tonsil tissue. New advances in technology, such as low-temperature
Coblation, have been shown in clinical studies to shorten recovery time, and
decrease both pain and post-operative use of narcotics when compared to
traditional, heat-based tonsillectomies.
"Throughout the years I've looked for an improved technique that would
reduce pain for my patients," Dolitsky said. "Parents should be aware that
sleep disordered breathing issues are more easily correctable than before."
To learn more about tonsillectomies visit AAO-HNS at http://www.entnet.org
or http://www.tonsilfacts.org.
Survey Methodology
The Harris Interactive(R) survey was conducted online with parents of
children age 18 and under who have had a tonsillectomy (261) and parents of
children age 18 and under who have not had a tonsillectomy (323) residing in
the U.S., between April 15 and April 29, 2005.
ABOUT AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY -- HEAD AND NECK SURGERY
The American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery and its
Foundation are headquartered in Alexandria, Va. This national medical society
represents the nation's 12,000 otolaryngologists -- head and neck surgeons,
medical specialists trained to diagnose and treat disorders of the ear, nose,
throat, and related structures of the head and neck.
ABOUT HARRIS INTERACTIVE(R)
Harris Interactive (http://harrisinteractive.com) is a worldwide market
research and consulting firm best known for The Harris Poll(R), and for
pioneering the Internet method to conduct scientifically accurate market
research. Headquartered in Rochester, New York, Harris Interactive combines
proprietary methodologies and technology with expertise in predictive, custom
and strategic research. The Company conducts international research from its
U.S. offices and through wholly owned subsidiaries -- London-based HI Europe
(http://hieurope.com) Paris-based Novatris and Tokyo-based Harris Interactive
Japan -- as well as through the Harris Interactive Global Network of
independent market- and opinion-research firms. EOE M/F/D/V
ABOUT ARTHROCARE
Founded in 1993, ArthroCare Corp. (Nasdaq: ARTC),
(http://www.arthrocareent.com/) is a highly innovative, multi-business medical
device company that develops, manufactures and markets minimally invasive
surgical products. With these products, ArthroCare targets a multi-billion
dollar market opportunity across several medical specialties, significantly
improving existing surgical procedures and enabling new, minimally invasive
procedures. Many of ArthroCare's products are based on its patented Coblation
technology, which uses low-temperature radiofrequency energy to gently and
precisely dissolve rather than burn soft tissue -- minimizing damage to
healthy tissue. Used in more than four million surgeries worldwide,
Coblation-based devices have been developed and marketed for sports medicine;
spine/neurologic; ear, nose and throat (ENT); cosmetic; urologic and
gynecologic procedures. ArthroCare also has added a number of novel
technologies to its portfolio, including Opus Medical sports medicine and
Parallax spine products, to complement Coblation within key indications.
CONTACT: Eric Beikmann
FischerHealth
(310) 577-7870 ext. 109
ebeikmann@fischerhealth.com
Kenneth Satterfield
AAO-HNS
703-519-1563
ksatterf@entnet.org
SOURCE American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery
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