BACKGROUND: Tonsillectomy is one of the most often performed surgery in our specialty. But postoperative bleeding is not only a statistic risk, it can lead to a tragic end individually. In the future and according to the DRGs, a postoperative stay in hospital for more than 6 days will be difficult to realise. METHODS: 10 052 patients after tonsillectomy were measured, 7663 were performed in the ORL-Department of Würzburg, 2389 in the ORL-Department of Augsburg. Further data was measured by questioning the parents of 65 young children after lasertonsillotomy. PATIENTS: The patient group of the tonsillectomies included all ages, the group of the lasertonsillotomies included young children aged 1- 6 years. RESULTS: The first spike of bleedings of the ORL-Department in Würzburg was found within the first 24 hours after surgery. A second spike showed between the 5 (th) and 7 (th) postoperative day, an other after the 8 (th) and 15 (th) postoperative day. In the ORL-Department Augsburg the main spike was found from the 7 (th) until the 9 (th) postoperative day. No postoperative bleedings were found in the lasertonsillotomies. CONCLUSIONS: A postoperative stay in hospital is sufficient for 3 days, but should vary individually. On young children with symptomatic hyperplasia of the tonsils a lasertonsillotomy should be performed.
BACKGROUND: Tonsillectomy is one of the most often performed surgery in our specialty. But postoperative bleeding is not only a statistic risk, it can lead to a tragic end individually. In the future and according to the DRGs, a postoperative stay in hospital for more than 6 days will be difficult to realise. METHODS: 10 052 patients after tonsillectomy were measured, 7663 were performed in the ORL-Department of Würzburg, 2389 in the ORL-Department of Augsburg. Further data was measured by questioning the parents of 65 young children after lasertonsillotomy. PATIENTS: The patient group of the tonsillectomies included all ages, the group of the lasertonsillotomies included young children aged 1- 6 years. RESULTS: The first spike of bleedings of the ORL-Department in Würzburg was found within the first 24 hours after surgery. A second spike showed between the 5 (th) and 7 (th) postoperative day, an other after the 8 (th) and 15 (th) postoperative day. In the ORL-Department Augsburg the main spike was found from the 7 (th) until the 9 (th) postoperative day. No postoperative bleedings were found in the lasertonsillotomies. CONCLUSIONS: A postoperative stay in hospital is sufficient for 3 days, but should vary individually. On young children with symptomatic hyperplasia of the tonsils a lasertonsillotomy should be performed.
Authors: Oliver Reichel; Doris Mayr; Jan Winterhoff; Richard de la Chaux; Hjalmar Hagedorn; Alexander Berghaus Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2006-09-21 Impact factor: 2.503