Clinical Indicators
Adenoidectomy

Procedure CPT FUD
Adenoidectomy, primary; under age 12 42830  90
Adenoidectomy, primary; age 12 or over 42831  90
Adenoidectomy, secondary; under age 12 42835  90
Adenoidectomy secondary; age 12 or over 42836  90

Indications
1. History... (One required)

a) Four or greater episodes of recurrent purulent rhinorrhea in prior 12 months in a child <12 years of age. One episode should be documented by intranasal examination or diagnostic imaging.
b) Persisting symptoms of adenoiditis after two courses of antibiotic therapy. One course of antibiotics should be with a B-lactamase stable antibiotic for at least two weeks.
c) Sleep disturbance with nasal airway obstruction persisting for at least 3 months.
d) Hyponasal or nasal speech.
e) Otitis media with effusion >3 months/second set of tubes.
f) Dental malocclusion or orofacial growth disturbance documented by orthodontist.
g) Cardiopulmonary complications including cor pulmonale, pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy associated with upper airway obstruction.
h) Otitis media with effusion ($age 4).

For infectious conditions, it is recommended that documentation of infections be obtained. For hypertrophy and other noninfectious conditions documentation should include information regarding growth, weight gain, any medical condition necessitating removal of the adenoids. Adenoid size is immaterial when the indication is sinusitis, adenoiditis, or otitis media with effusion. Allergic symptoms should have been treated with an adequate trial of allergy therapy prior to evaluation for non-infectious conditions.

2. Physical Examination... (required)

a) Description of uvula, palate, tonsils, nasal airway, cervical lymph nodes.
b) Evaluation of adenoids by mirror, palpation or imaging as necessary.

3. Tests... (If abnormality suspected by history, physical examination)

a) Coagulation and bleeding evaluation
b) Radiographs (lateral neck or cephalometric)
c) Sleep tape recording (if documentation of snoring or apnea required)
d) Polysomnography (if required)

Postoperative Observations

1. Bleeding from nose, mouth or emesis of fresh blood-notify surgeon.
2. Hydration maintained by IV until oral intake satisfactory.
3. Adequate pain control maintained postoperatively using oral or IM. medications depending on oral intake.
4. Persistent temperature >102 degrees F - notify surgeon.

Outcome Review
1. Two-Four Week

a) Healing - Did patient require treatment for bleeding, infections, or dehydration?
b) Function - Is there a change in voice, breathing, or swallowing from the preoperative status?
2. One Year
a) Infection - Have there been fewer throat infections, or ear infections, if applicable?
b) Function - Is breathing improved?

Associated ICD-9 Diagnostic Codes

474.9 Chronic adenotonsillitis
474.12 Adenoid hypertrophy
474.1 Adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy
780.51 Sleep apnea
786.09 Snoring
473.9 Chronic Sinusitis, NOS
524.4 Malocclusion
474.01 Chronic Adenoiditis
Related ICD-9 Codes
381.20 Chronic mucoid otitis media, simple or unspecified
382.10 Chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media
382.20 Chronic atticoantral otitis media
385.11 Adhesion of drum head to incus
385.12 Adhesion of drum head to stapes
385.13 Adhesion of drum head to promontorium
385.19 Other adhesion and combinations

Additional Information
Assistant Surgeon -- N
Supply Charges -- N
Prior Approval -- N

Anesthesia Code(s)
00160

Patient Information
Removal of adenoids is one of the most frequently performed throat operations. It offers a safe, effective surgical way to resolve breathing obstruction, throat infections and manage recurrent childhood ear disease. Pain following surgery is an unpleasant side effect, but can be reasonably controlled with medication. Similar to the pain experienced with throat infections, it may often also be felt in the ears. There are also some risks associated with removal of adenoids. Although very rare, significant postoperative bleeding may occur. If significant bleeding occurs, it is most often immediate and short lived. Treatment of such bleeding is usually handled as an outpatient, however, susutained bleeding may require treatment in the operating room under general anesthesia. In rare cases, a blood transfusion may be recommended. There are some more persistent side effects sometimes associated with the removal of adenoids. As swallowing is painful after surgery, the patient may not take in sufficient fluids orally. If this cannot be corrected at home, IV fluid replacement may be necessary. Halitosis is common in the immediate postoperative period. Infection is an infrequent occurrence. Anesthetic complications are known to exist, however, they are quite uncommon.

Important Notice

The Clinical Indicators for Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery are guidelines only. In no sense do they represent a standard of care. The applicability of an indicator for a procedure, and/or of the process or outcome criteria, must be determined by the responsible physician in light of all the circumstances presented by the individual patient. Adherence to these guidelines will not ensure successful treatment in every situation. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. emphasizes that these clinical indicators should not be deemed inclusive of all proper treatment decisions or methods of care, nor exclusive of other treatment decisions or methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results.

© 2000 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. One Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.