title: (Ton)silly seasons? Do atmospheric conditions actually affect post-tonsillectomy secondary haemorrhage rates?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tonsillectomy is a common procedure, with potentially life-threatening complications. Previous investigations into post-tonsillectomy secondary haemorrhage rates suggest an influence of climactic and atmospheric conditions on haemorrhage rate, particularly temperature and water vapour pressure. With a single emergency department and a large variance in atmospheric conditions, Darwin, Australia, is ideal for investigating the effects of local climate on rates of post-operative haemorrhage.
  
  
  METHODS
  A five-year retrospective review was conducted of all tonsillectomy procedures performed between 2008 and 2013. Effects of atmospheric variables were examined using Pearson's correlation coefficient and analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 941 patients underwent tonsillectomy in the study period. The bleeding rate was 7.7 per cent. No variation was found between wet and dry season tonsillectomies (p = 0.4). Temperature (p = 0.74), water vapour pressure (p = 0.94) and humidity (p = 0.66) had no effect on bleeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings revealed no correlation between humidity, season, water vapour pressure and haemorrhage rates. Further research should use multi-site data to investigate the effect of air conditioning, humidification and climactic conditions between different regions in Australia.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology,Head and Neck Surgery,Royal Darwin Hospital,Tiwi,Northern Territory,Australia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cadd
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology,Head and Neck Surgery,Royal Darwin Hospital,Tiwi,Northern Territory,Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology,Head and Neck Surgery,Royal Darwin Hospital,Tiwi,Northern Territory,Australia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology,Head and Neck Surgery,Royal Darwin Hospital,Tiwi,Northern Territory,Australia.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crossland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002980:Climate; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014068:Tonsillectomy
keywords: Australia; Emergency Service; Hemorrhage; Hospital; Humans; Humidity; Hydrostatic Pressure; Otolaryngology; Seasons; Temperature; Tonsillectomy; Vapor Pressure