title: Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage: an assessment of risk factors.
abstract: Hemorrhage is the most frequent complication of tonsillectomy and is responsible for the majority of post-tonsillectomy fatalities. The incidence of this hemorrhage has been reported to be as high as 20% [6]. Despite continued efforts to reduce this problem, it remains a persistent risk. The charts of 1138 patients who underwent tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy from 7-1-89 to 6-30-93 were reviewed. Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage occurred in 36 patients (3%). Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative risk factors were assessed. Postoperative bleeding occurred more often in older patients (69% over age 11 years). Seventy-five per cent of these patients were operated on for chronic tonsillitis as compared to 11% operated on for upper airway obstruction. The majority of these patients presented after postoperative day 1 (83%). Four patients required blood transfusions. Postoperative hemorrhage occurred in 14% of patients with elevated postoperative mean arterial pressures. Intraoperative blood loss that exceeded 50 cm3 was also a significant risk factor for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage. It is concluded that older age, a history of chronic tonsillitis, excessive intraoperative blood loss and elevated postoperative mean arterial pressure are significant risk factors for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage. An awareness of these risk factors can help identify patients with potential to bleed postoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Disorders, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York 11040, NY, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Myssiorek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvi
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*