Post-Tonsillectomy Bleeding: Assessing the Merit of Some Risk Factors in a Series of Saudi Patients

ABSTRACT

Background: Post-tonsillectomy bleeding is a commonly encountered problem due to several risk factors. This study aimed to assess the burden of post-tonsillectomy bleeding and its possible hematological risk factors in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This is a retrospective study involved a series of 311 patients who attended with evidencebased indications of tonsillectomy and subsequently underwent surgical removal of the tonsils, with or without adenoidectomy (adeno/tonsillectomy). All of the patients underwent bipolar diathermy surgical techniques. Results: Out of the 311 patients, 67.5% underwent tonsillectomy and 32.5% underwent adenotonsillectomy. Post-tonsillectomy bleeding was experienced in 5.8% patients, 6.9% were males and 4% were females. The males’ risk (relative risk (RR)) of Post-tonsillectomy bleeding and the 95% confidence interval 95% CI) RR (95% CI)=1.7011 (0.6220 to 4.6521), p=0.3007. Conclusion: The prevalence of post-tonsillectomy bleeding is relatively higher in Saudi Arabia than the reported values in most studies. Factors such as post-operative infection, use of bipolar diathermy technique, and pain might be incriminated in the reported cases of postoperative bleeding in the current study.