title: Post-tonsillectomy management: A framework.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite written and verbal education, many post-tonsillectomy patients have a lack of understanding of common postoperative symptoms. Combined with a significant decline in the length of hospital stay, this has resulted in many presentations to the general practitioner (GP). Prior research has found there was often difficulty with diagnosing postoperative infection, compared with normal postoperative symptoms, which has ultimately led to an over-prescription of antibiotics. Previously, GPs have requested a framework to manage these patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article aims to address many of the common reasons for presentation to a general practice post-tonsillectomy, and provide a guideline for managing these common presenting complaints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many of the signs and symptoms that have previously prompted antibiotic prescription for suspected infection are part of the normal postoperative course. However, if there is high clinical suspicion of infection then a course of antibiotics would be reasonable.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*