title: Complications of adenotonsillectomy revisited in a large pediatric case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the most important postoperative adenotonsillectomy morbidities, with an emphasis on prolonged hospitalization and readmissions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 2067 cases of adenotonsillectomies performed at our institution over a period of 6 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of these cases, 1927 patients had undergone tonsillectomy by electrocautery and adenoidectomy by suction-coagulator, of whom 9.3% required admission. The incidence of admissions owing to bleeding was 1.7%, whereas admissions owing to respiratory and gastrointestinal complications represented 3.7% and 5.2%, respectively. Compared with the literature and our institution's previous results, these morbidity values were found to be either comparable or significantly lower (p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We attribute this improvement to our use of electrocautery-based techniques not only for tonsillectomy but also for adenoidectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Abou-Jaoude
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Manoukian
authors.forename: Sam J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balys
authors.forename: Zahi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abou-Chacra
authors.forename: Marc-Elie
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nader
authors.forename: Ted L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tewfik
authors.forename: Melvin D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Schloss
mesh_terms: D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010359:Patient Readmission; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods