Predictive Risk Factors for Post Tonsillectomy Hemorrhage in Children

Objective: To assess the risk factors which determine the magnitude of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage.

Study Design: Prospective cross sectional study.

Setting: A study carried out at otolyrangical unit at a tertiary care Isra University hospital Hyderabad, from June 2018 to April 2019.

Materials and Methods: 110 pediatric patients age 5-17 years were included in this study. We administrated a structured questionnaire to parents of the patients. We selected cases for tonsillectomy as per criteria of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). Those patients with a history of recurrent tonsillitis presented at the otolaryngology department were included. Patients with a history of use of anticoagulant therapy, obstructive sleep apnea, patients with a history of a bleeding disorder, and patients not giving consent were excluded. We diagnosed patients selected for tonsillectomy included with recurrent tonsillitis, peri-tonsillar hypertrophy, and tonsillar hypertrophy. Patients were observed and followed for postoperative hemorrhage. Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 (SPSS 21).

Results: Among 110 children included in the study, 41.8% patients were in the age group of 5-10 years, 30% were in the age group of 11-15 years and 28.2% were over 15 years. Among 110 patients 21.8% underwent tonsillectomy were diagnosed as recurrent tonsillitis, 19% were diagnosed as having tonsillar hypertrophy, 40.0% were suffering from both recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy and 19.2% had peritonsillar hypertrophy. This shows that 14.5% were admitted to the hospital after 1-5 days, 58.1% developed post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage after 6-10 days and 27.2% developed post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage after 10 days.

Conclusion: We conclude that age >10 years was significant predictive risk factors for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage among children who undergo tonsillectomy.