[Tonsillectomy by electrical dissection: risk factors of postoperative hemorrhage in children].
OBJECTIVE
To identify pre or intraoperative risk factors that could indicate a higher risk for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) in children undergoing electrocautery dissection. SET-UP: Primary referral hospital.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 163 post-tonsillectomy children comparing 7 cases of PTH with 156 cases with no PTH.


METHODS
This study includes children under the age of 18 that underwent tonsillectomy by dissection between 1997 and 2000.


METHODS
Age, sex, height, weight, body mass index, hemoglobin level, hematocrit, platelet count activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen, ASA index (physical state classification of the American Society of Anesthesiology) and type of hemostasis.


RESULTS
Prevalence of PTH was 4.29% in the cohort sample. The risk of PTH in children following tonsillectomy by electrodissection is significantly increased in patients over 15 years of age (OR = 8.46, p = 0.04) and when ligatures are used for hemostasis (OR = 8.62, p = 0.02). Activated partial thromboplastin time > or = 32 seconds is marginally significant (OR = 7.82, p = 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show that tonsillectomy by electrodissection has an increased risk of bleeding in older children and when ligatures are used for hemostasis.
Fernández
A
A
Departamento de ORL, Area de Cirugía, Hospital de Poniente, El Ejido, Almería.
Sánchez Canet
I
I
Gómez Fiñana
M
M
López-Escámez
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods*