N K Chadha1. 1. ENT Department, Torbay Hospital, Torquay, UK. neil@chadhanet.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore whether the incidence of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage requiring a return to theatre demonstrates a monthly or seasonal variation. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional study including all 256 799 tonsillectomies performed between April 2000 and March 2005 in NHS trusts in England. OUTCOME MEASURES: Return-to-theatre rates for each calendar month and each three-month 'season', over the five-year study period. RESULTS: A statistically significant association was found between the calendar month and the proportion of patients requiring a return to theatre for post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage (p=0.005). There was a bimodal seasonal distribution peaking in the winter and summer months, with winter rates significantly higher than spring rates (p=0.0104). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of severe post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage showed monthly and seasonal variations. This is clearly a multi-factorial problem. However, in patients at high risk of bleeding or of the complications of bleeding, consideration should be given to performing tonsillectomy at a time of year of lower incidence.
OBJECTIVE: To explore whether the incidence of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage requiring a return to theatre demonstrates a monthly or seasonal variation. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional study including all 256 799 tonsillectomies performed between April 2000 and March 2005 in NHS trusts in England. OUTCOME MEASURES: Return-to-theatre rates for each calendar month and each three-month 'season', over the five-year study period. RESULTS: A statistically significant association was found between the calendar month and the proportion of patients requiring a return to theatre for post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage (p=0.005). There was a bimodal seasonal distribution peaking in the winter and summer months, with winter rates significantly higher than spring rates (p=0.0104). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of severe post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage showed monthly and seasonal variations. This is clearly a multi-factorial problem. However, in patients at high risk of bleeding or of the complications of bleeding, consideration should be given to performing tonsillectomy at a time of year of lower incidence.
Authors: Stefan Grasl; Patrick Mekhail; Stefan Janik; Christoph M Grasl; Erich Vyskocil; Boban M Erovic; Christoph Arnoldner; Lukas D Landegger Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2021-09-23 Impact factor: 2.503