Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: January | Volume: 3 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 11-14
Frequency of Post Tonsillectomy Hemorrhage at Dhulikhel Hospital-Kathmandu University Hospital
Pradeep Rajbhandari1, Bikash Lal Shrestha2, Ashish Dhakal3
1Final year resident, 2Associate Professor & Head of Department, 3Lecturer, Department of ENT-HNS, Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
Corresponding Author: Dr. Pradeep Rajbhandari
ABSTRACT
Background: Tonsillectomy is one of the most common operations performed worldwide. Recent American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) clinical indicators specify that the patients with three or more infections of the tonsils per year may be considered candidates for tonsillectomy. Chronic tonsillitis and recurrent tonsillitis are the most common indications for tonsillectomy. Hemorrhage is the most common and serious complication following tonsillectomy.
Objective: To find out the frequency of post tonsillectomy hemorrhage at Dhulikhel Hospital- Kathmandu University Hospital.
Materials and method: This is a retrospective review of data retrieved from the record on tonsillectomy performed by cold dissection with hemostasis maintained by bipolar cautery performed between 1st January, 2016-30th June, 2017 and number of post tonsillectomy hemorrhage that took place in that period .
Results: Out of 119 tonsillectomies, 15 patients (12.6%) developed post tonsillectomy hemorrhage between 5th to 12th postoperative days. Out of 15 patients, 8 were male and 7 were female. The mean age of the patients reporting with secondary hemorrhage was 24.4 years. The mean number of days post-operatively after which the bleeding started was 6.7 days (range: 5th -12th post-operative day). Out of 15 patients, 12 developed hemorrhage during their stay at hospital.
Conclusion: Our study shows that prevalence of secondary hemorrhage at our hospital is 12.6% .Most of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage is not life threatening and can be managed conservatively.
Key words: Cold dissection, Hemorrhage, Tonsillectomy, Tonsillitis