Does surgical technique influence post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage? Our experience.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Tonsillectomy represents one of the main surgical procedures for the otolaryngologist, with haemorrhage being the most common postoperative. The objective of this study was to determine the post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage rate, and relate the surgical technique, diagnosis and patient age. METHODS This was a retrospective study, from April 2012 to January 2014, covering 429 patients. We used the following surgical-dissection techniques: cold, Colorado needle and monopolar forceps. Haemostasis was carried out in every case with monopolar forceps and gauze compression. RESULTS Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage rate was 6.99%. According to the surgical technique used, with Colorado needle dissection, the bleeding rate we found was 7.07%; with monopolar forceps dissection, the rate was 20.4%; and with cold dissection, 2.9%. Of all haemorrhages, only 9 (2.09%) needed reintervention, of which 40% were performed with monopolar forceps dissection. The group with the largest bleeding rate was that of more than 14 years old. The diagnosis most associated with bleeding was peritonsillar abscess. CONCLUSION The lowest bleeding rate was found with cold dissection and monopolar forceps haemostasis (2.09%). Consequently, based on our experience and the results obtained in the study, we consider that surgical technique does influence post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage.