Hemostasis in Tonsillectomy

Ryan M Mitchell; Sanjay R Parikh

doi:10.1016/j.otc.2016.03.008

Hemostasis in Tonsillectomy

Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2016 Jun;49(3):615-26. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2016.03.008.

Authors

Ryan M Mitchell¹, Sanjay R Parikh²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 256515, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
² Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 256515, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital, 4800 Sand Point Way Northeast, OA.9.329, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Electronic address: sanjay.parikh@seattlechildrens.org.

PMID: 27267014
DOI: 10.1016/j.otc.2016.03.008

Abstract

Tonsillectomy is a commonly performed procedure with an accepted risk of posttonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) approaching 5%, but catastrophic effects of hemorrhage are exceedingly rare. A variety of surgical techniques and hemostatic agents have been used to reduce the rate of hemorrhage, although none eliminate the risk. Numerous patient, surgical, and postoperative care factors have been studied for an association with PTH. The most consistent risk factors for PTH seem to be patient age and coagulopathies. Surgeon skill and surgical technique are most consistently associated with primary PTH.

Keywords: Complication; Hemorrhage; Hemostasis; Tonsillectomy; Tonsillotomy; Transfusion.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Blood Coagulation Disorders / epidemiology
Clinical Competence
Hemostasis, Surgical / methods*
Hemostatic Techniques*
Hemostatics / pharmacology*
Humans
Postoperative Care / methods*
Postoperative Hemorrhage* / etiology
Postoperative Hemorrhage* / therapy
Risk Factors
Tonsillectomy / adverse effects*
Tonsillectomy / methods

Substances

Hemostatics