Oto-Surg 1 is the first-ever international prospective cohort study focused on pediatric tonsillectomy. It brings together collaborators worldwide to better understand the indications, techniques, and outcomes of tonsillectomy across diverse healthcare settings.

The primary aims of OtoSurg 1 are to 1) characterize pediatric tonsillectomy surgical indications and techniques across global WHO regions and 2) quantify global pediatric 30-day post-tonsillectomy complications and mortality. The secondary aims are to a) recruit and train a collaborative research network of otolaryngology surgeons and trainees from around the world who will be poised to carry out future research projects and b) build the digital infrastructure necessary to support this network sustainably.

Pediatric tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures worldwide; however, outcomes and practices vary significantly across different WHO regions. By gathering standardized data globally, we aim to identify preventable complications, reduce disparities, and improve surgical care for children everywhere. We also hope this study will lay the foundation for future global otolaryngology-focused outcomes research.

Any clinician or trainee who performs pediatric tonsillectomies is eligible to participate, regardless of their country, hospital size, or resource setting. Both high-income and low- and middle-income countries are encouraged to join. I am running a few minutes late; my previous meeting is running over. So, yes, that means you can participate! We hope you will join us.

Exception: unfortunately, sites in China are excluded due to the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China (PIPL).

By joining, you can 1) become a co-author and contributor to the first-ever prospective global dataset on pediatric tonsillectomy, 2) contribute to research that directly improves patient care and safety, 3) meet other like-minded trainees or surgeons from around the world, and 4) learn more about global health outcomes research.

Participation is designed to be easy, stress-free, and feasible even in busy clinical settings. Each center will collect standardized data on a set number of consecutive pediatric tonsillectomy patients over a flexible 60-day data collection period.

Data will be entered into a secure, web-based platform via REDCap. No identifiable patient information will be collected or shared. Each participating site will receive complete guidance on ethics approvals and data security.

OtoSurg 1 is led by the Global OHNS Initiative, in collaboration with international leaders in otolaryngology and global surgery research. You can learn more about the Global OHNS Initiative by exploring other sections of our website.

All collaborators will be listed as PubMed-indexed co-authors on primary study publications, in accordance with collaborative authorship models (e.g., GlobalSurg). More information regarding research equity can be found on the Global OHNS Initiative website under the “Research” tab.

No. All data will be submitted securely via REDCap and stored centrally through Emory University. Each participating site will have access to its own data but will not have access to data from other sites. Please refer to the data collection agreement for additional details. The data will only be used for the OtoSurg 1 project.

Yes. There is a central IRB approved through Emory University to organize this project and house the data in REDCap. However, each participating site must obtain its own institutional research ethics approval or exemption to participate. We have created resources to streamline this process for you, making it as easy as possible. These resources can be found under the “Resources for Partner Sites” tab on the OtoSurg section of the Global OHNS Initiative website.

Recruitment, training, and individual site ethics determination approval will occur over 12 months from October 1, 2025, to October 1, 2026. The six-month data collection window will be from October 1, 2026, to April 1, 2027. Individual sites will be free to select any 60-day interval during this data collection window to record and then submit their data.

You can access the study protocol, training materials, and updates through our website, specifically under the "Resources for Partner Sites" tab. Live webinars and Q&A sessions will also be held for interested participants.

You can reach our leadership team through our WhatsApp community and via our email address. This information will be provided to partner sites as part of the onboarding process.

Click on the OtoSurg Contact Information tab on our website and complete the “Expression of Interest” form. Our team will get in touch with you to share onboarding materials, connect you with your regional representative, and discuss next steps.