Office-Based Pediatric Otoplasty Under Local Anesthesia

Abstract

Background: Many parents seek otoplasty for their school age children but fear having to undergo general anesthesia (GA). In our experience, otoplasty can safely be performed in an officebased setting under local anesthesia (LA). There is a gap in the literature regarding pediatric otoplasty under LA. Methods: All children aged 5 to 10 who underwent otoplasty between 2017 and 2021 were included in a retrospective review. Demographics, operative techniques, complications, recurrences, and reoperation rates were collected. Surveys were provided 3 months after treatment to assess parental satisfaction and anxiety. Results were compared between patients who received otoplasty under GA and LA. Results: A total of 13 patients (6 male, 7 female), with a mean age of 7 years (ranging 5-10) underwent otoplasty under LA. Tweleve children (6 male, 6 female), with a mean age of 5 years (ranging 4-7) underwent otoplasty under GA. The only complications seen were 3 minor conchal bowl hematomas that were aspirated, each retrieving <1 mL of blood; no revisions were necessary. The LA subgroup was more likely to repeat otoplasty under identical conditions (P = 0.025). Postoperatively, mean parental anxiety scores between the LA and GA subgroups were significantly different (1.4 ± 1.1 versus 4.8 ± 2.7, P = 0.0005). Lastly, the mean satisfaction scores between the LA and GA subgroups were marginally different (3.83 ± 0.58 versus 3.17 ± 1.03, P = 0.063). Conclusion: Pediatric otoplasty under LA is a safe and feasible operation for patients between 5 and 10 years of age.