Adult day case tonsillectomy: a safe and viable option.

Day case tonsillectomy, in general, is not considered a routine procedure. Many otolaryngologists would not perform this operation on an out-patient basis due to the risk of reactionary haemorrhage after discharge from hospital. A prospective trial of carefully selected adult patients undergoing day case tonsillectomy was performed. Each was given a questionnaire to assess post-operative morbidity including pain, time required to return to normal diet and comments on the ambulatory aspect of their surgery. The results of 48 patients are analysed. None of these had haemorrhage within 24 h of their operation. Twenty patients (42%) were happy to have the procedure performed in this way whilst 19 (39%) found it tolerable. Two patients had to be admitted overnight as they had not recovered enough to be discharged. It is concluded that adult day case tonsillectomy in selected patients is a safe and viable option.