ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Risk factors for postoperative haemorrhage after tonsillectomy are discussed controversy. In the past years surgical techniques were considered a determining factor for post-tonsillectomy bleedings in several studies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a prospective, multicentre study 9,405 patients--of whom 4,437 underwent tonsillectomy and were focused in this article--were evaluated during study -period of 9 months (1st October 2009 till 30th June 2010). Postoperative haemorrhage was defined as any bleeding episode after extubation and classified according to a 7 grade scheme. RESULTS: Postoperative haemorrhage occurred in 14.4% (637/4,437) patients with 4.6% (204/4,437) requiring a return to theatre and 9.8% (433/4,437) experiencing minor bleedings. Bipolar techniques (with or without cold steel dissection) showed a haemorrhage risk of 16.8% (62/370). Severe bleedings occurred significantly more often with the use of bipolar techniques (8% compared to 4.6% severe bleedings for all operation techniques, p=0.003). In addition, Coblation® technique had a higher postoperative haemorrhage rate (23.5%, 12/51). However, minor bleedings occurred in the majority of patients operated with Coblation® technique (20% compared to 9.8% minor bleedings for all operation techniques, p<0.017). CONCLUSION: Following the strict definition of postoperative haemorrhage, we found higher postoperative haemorrhage rates for bipolar techniques and Coblation® technique. The proportion of severe bleedings is higher for bipolar methods, whereas the proportion of minor bleedings is higher for Coblation® technique.
Subject(s)
Postoperative Complications/etiology , Postoperative Hemorrhage/etiology , Tonsillectomy/methods , Adolescent , Age Factors , Austria , Catheter Ablation/methods , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Dissection/methods , Female , Humans , Male , Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care , Postoperative Complications/epidemiology , Postoperative Complications/surgery , Postoperative Hemorrhage/epidemiology , Postoperative Hemorrhage/surgery , Reoperation/statistics & numerical data , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Postoperative haemorrhage is the most common and serious complication of tonsil and adenoid surgery. Definitions, frequency and risk factors of postoperative bleedings are however, controversially discussed in the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective multicenter cohort study all tonsillectomies (TE), adenotonsillectomies (TE + AE), tonsillotomies (TO), adenotonsillotomies (TO + AE) and adenoidectomies (AE) performed within 9 months from October 1st, 2009 - June 30th, 2010 were collected and evaluated. Postoperative haemorrhage was defined as any bleeding after extubation and was classified into 7 grades A1, A2, B1, B2, C, D and E depending on the therapy needed and the postoperative day. RESULTS: Data from 9 405 patients of 32 ENT-departments in Austria were analysed. Overall postoperative haemorrhage rate for TE was 16.0%, for TE + AE 11.8%, for TO±AE 2.3% and for AE 0.8%. Surgical revision was necessary in almost one third of patients with a postoperative bleeding event (TE 5.3%, TE + AE 4.1%, TO 0.8% und AE 0.3%). Multiple haemorrhage occurred in every 5th patient, who experienced postoperative bleeding (1.7% of all patients). The frequency of haemorrhage depended on the type of surgery and the age of the individual. Severe bleedings requiring surgical revision were more frequent in children between 6 and 15 years and AE. 9 patients (1.2% of all patients with haemorrhage) experienced a dramatic haemorrhage (grade D), with the need of blood transfusions and difficult surgical control. No deaths occurred during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Due to a new classification postoperative bleeding episodes could be precisely defined and postoperative risk factors were quantified. Considering all postoperative bleedings, including minor and anamnestic ones, the haemorrhage rate over all types of surgeries was 7.9% (2.7% of all patients required a surgical revision). Tonsillectomy (with or without adenoidectomy) carries the highest statistical risk of postoperative bleeding, with 4.9% of all patients requiring surgical intervention. Patients who experience one - albeit minimal - postoperative haemorrhage, have a 5 times higher risk for further bleeding requiring surgical control, and should therefore be carefully monitored.
Subject(s)
Adenoidectomy/adverse effects , Postoperative Hemorrhage/epidemiology , Tonsillectomy/adverse effects , Adolescent , Age Factors , Austria , Blood Transfusion/statistics & numerical data , Child , Cohort Studies , Combined Modality Therapy , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Postoperative Hemorrhage/classification , Postoperative Hemorrhage/surgery , Prospective Studies , Recurrence , Reoperation , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tonsillectomy (TE), tonsillotomy (TO) and adenoidectomy (AE) are surgeries performed routinely by otorhinolaryngologists. There were 5 cases of fatal postoperative bleeding in Austria during the years 2006 and 2007, all in children under 6 years of age. The intensive discussion following these sad events resulted in a Consensus Paper of the Austrian Society of ORL, H&NS with the Austrian Society of Pediatrics with modified recommendations towards indications and surgical techniques in different age groups; in addition, the prospective study presented here was initiated. In Austria for the first time a full census could be performed assessing all TE, TO and AE with standardized definitions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Within the study period of 9 months' from October 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010, data on patients' characteristics, indication for surgery, surgical technique and postoperative haemorrhage were prospectively collected. Postoperative haemorrhage was defined as any bleeding after extubation regardless of whether or not a surgical intervention was required. Postoperative bleeding events were categorised into 7 grades depending on severity. RESULTS: More than one million data of 9,405 patients from 32 ENT-departments in Austria were collected and analysed. One third were children younger than 6 years (n=3,474; 37%) and one third were adults (n=3,507, 37%). A TE ±AE was performed in 48.8% (n=4,594), an AE in 37.1% (n=3,492) and a TO in 14.0% (n=1, 319). For the indication "recurrent tonsillitis and tonsilar hypertrophy" 70% of children had a TO but 95% of adults had a TE (p<0.001). Adults with OSAS had a TE whereas in children aged younger than 6 with the same indication a TO was preferably performed in 90% (p<0.001). For TO the Colorado-needle and the Coblation technique were most commonly used. The Adenotome by La Force and the Adenoid curette by Beckmann, with or without endoscopic control, were most frequently used for AE. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time a prospective full survey could be performed in one country assessing all tonsil and adenoid surgeries along standardized criteria. The study gives an overview about the types of surgery, the indications, the operation techniques and the frequency of postoperative haemorrhage. The latter, because of its clinical importance, is dealt with and described in detail in the second part of this publication.
