INTEGRATE–BAPO National Paediatric Adenotonsillectomy Audit

A National Audit of Current Practice and Outcomes

Background

Paediatric adenotonsillectomy is one of the most commonly performed ENT procedures in children, with recurrent tonsillitis and sleep-disordered breathing representing the principal indications for surgery. National guidance from BAPO and GIRFT provides recommendations to optimise peri-operative care; however, contemporary national data describing current practice and outcomes remain limited.

Understanding variation in patient selection, peri-operative pathways and postoperative outcomes is essential to benchmark current practice, identify variation, and support future quality improvement initiatives. This national audit will provide a contemporary overview of paediatric adenotonsillectomy practice across the UK.

Aims

The INTEGRATE–BAPO National Paediatric Adenotonsillectomy Audit aims to:

  • Describe current paediatric adenotonsillectomy practice across the UK
  • Characterise patient demographics, indications for surgery and peri-operative pathways
  • Evaluate variation in surgical and peri-operative management between centres
  • Compare postoperative outcomes, including complications, readmissions and returns to theatre
  • Benchmark current practice against BAPO and GIRFT recommendations
  • Identify opportunities for future quality improvement and service development

Strategy

The INTEGRATE–BAPO National Paediatric Adenotonsillectomy Audit is a national, multicentre, retrospective observational audit of children undergoing elective adenotonsillar surgery. We are recruiting site leads and collaborators from ENT departments across the United Kingdom to support local data collection.

Study setting: We are accepting data from centres across the United Kingdom.

Retrospective data collection will take place following local site registration:

  • Site registration opens: 16/09/26
  • Site registration closes: 14/10/26
  • Eligible patients: Children (≤16 years) undergoing elective tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy between 01/03/26 and 30/04/26
  • Data submission deadline: 10/01/27

Recognition

All site leads, collaborators and supervising consultants from centres completing data collection will be recognised as PubMed-citable collaborative authors on publications arising from the study.

For trainees applying for national selection, participation in a national collaborative audit may contribute towards portfolio evidence where applicable.

Key Dates

  • Site lead and collaborator recruitment: Now open
  • Site registration opens: 16/09/26
  • Site registration closes: 14/10/26
  • Data collection closes: 10/01/27

Checklist

  1. Register your site – Complete the Study Registration Form
  2. Obtain local audit approval
    1. Register the project with your local audit/governance department.
    2. A study protocol and audit registration template are provided to support this process.
  3. Identify eligible patients – Screen children meeting the study inclusion criteria during the study period.
  4. Collect study data – Use the standardised data collection tool provided.
  5. Data handling
    1. Retain a secure local copy of the dataset.
    2. Pseudonymise all data before submission by removing patient identifiers.
    3. No identifiable patient information should be shared outside the participating site.
  6. Submit your data – Submit the completed anonymised dataset using the study template to [study email] by [deadline].

Key Documents

Contact Us

For further information, please contact us at tonsil@entintegrate.co.uk.