title: 15-year audit of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage at Dunedin Hospital.
abstract: Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage is a significant complication because of its frequency and consequences. Increases in post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage prevalence have been reported. There is a controversy about whether increasing the use of diathermy techniques or anti-platelet aggregation effects of analgesia could have caused this increase. We carried out an audit of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage and examined the rates of readmission for bleeding during the period 1990-2004. We also recorded the surgical technique used and the use of perioperative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids. During this period there has been a significant increase in post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage with an average annual increase of 15.3% (P<0.0001, 95% confidence interval 8.5-22.5%). The increase is coincidental with the change-over to predominant diathermy technique and a routine use of postoperative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Dunedin Public Hospital, and Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. emily.macassey@healthotago.co.nz
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Macassey
authors.forename: Campbell
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baguley
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dawes
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal