To assess upper respiratory surgery rates in Finnish children and compare the rates of adenoidectomy and tympanostomy tubes in 2002 with the 1987 cohort.
Descriptive study of national upper respiratory surgery in Finland in 1987 and 2002; adenoidectomies, tympanostomy tubes and combination of these two. Surgical rates were viewed in the light of child density and number of primary care physicians and otorhinolaryngologists.
Rates of adenoidectomy and tympanostomy tubes were highest in Western Finland and lowest in Eastern Finland (p