Unilateral immediate tonsillectomy as the treatment of peritonsillar abscess: Results, with special attention to pharyngitis

The results of unilateral immediate tonsillectomy, as the routine treatment of peritonsillar abscess, were studied in 47 patients with no previous history of serious tonsillitis. The follow-up was carried out between three and four years after operation. The incidence of tonsillitis in the contralateral tonsil remained unchanged and peritonsillar abscess did not occur in that tonsil. Symptoms of pharyngitis, periodic or chronic, were present in three patients only. This was found to be significantly lower than that found in the literature in a similar group of patients in whom bilateral immediate tonsillectomy had been performed. The results are discussed and the authors recommend unilateral immediate tonsillectomy in cases of peritonsillar abscess in all patients with no previous history of serious tonsillitis, as this apparently prevents the troublesome side-effects of chronic pharyngitis.