Post-Tonsillectomy Bleeding and Analgesic Use Before and After the FDA Boxed Warning Against Codeine.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the trends in post-tonsillectomy analgesic utility and incidence of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage before and after the 2013 FDA Boxed Warning against codeine use after pediatric tonsillectomy. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using TriNetX. A search for patients up to 18 years from 2008 to 2022 within the US Collaborative Network identified 15,648,542 subjects. CPT and ICD-10 codes were used to identify children who experienced post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage within 14 days of a tonsillectomy. Analgesics given within 14 days of tonsillectomy were tabulated annually from 2008 to 2022, including codeine, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, oxycodone, ketorolac, and hydrocodone. Bleeding percentage and analgesic utility were grouped into events before and after 2013. RESULTS: Mean age at tonsillectomy was 5.6 years (SD = 3.0). Before 2013, the median percentage of children who experienced postoperative bleeding was 1.8% with 0.73% returning to the OR for bleeding control. After 2013, the median percentage of children who experienced postoperative bleeding was 2.4% (p = 0.029), and 0.99% returned to the OR (p = 0.008). Use of post-tonsillectomy codeine fell from 10.4% to 0.5% (p = 0.003) whereas ibuprofen rose from 2.0% to 63.9% (p = <0.001), acetaminophen from 42.8% to 77.2% (p = <0.001), ketorolac from 1.2% to 9.2% (p = <0.001), and oxycodone from 2.0% to 30.9% (p = <0.001). No change was detected in use of hydrocodone. CONCLUSION: Analgesics used post-tonsillectomy in children have changed since the FDA Boxed Warning against codeine. There has been a small but statistically significant increase in post-tonsillectomy bleeding. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV Laryngoscope, 2024.

Tonsil microbiome in pediatric patients with post tonsillectomy hemorrhage for tonsillar hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the tonsillar microbiota between post tonsillectomy patients with bleeding and without bleeding, and to investigate the potential role of tonsillar microbiota in the development of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH). METHODS: Nineteen tonsillar tissues from PTH patients and 21 tissues from control patients were collected. Metagenomic sequencing was used to compare the microbiota in PTH and control groups. Alpha diversity indices were used to compare the richness and evenness of the microbiota between the two groups. PCoA and NMDS analyses were used to evaluate beta diversity. LDA analysis was conducted to identify significantly abundant genera. RESULTS: No significant difference in alpha diversity indices was found between PTH and control patients. The dominant bacteria in the tonsillar microbiota were Haemophilus, Streptococcus, and Fusobacterium. PCoA and NMDS analyses showed significant differences in beta diversity between PTH and control patients. PTH patients had a significantly higher relative abundance of Neisseria, Capnocytophaga, and Veillonella. Capnocytophaga was also identified as a significantly abundant genus by LDA analysis. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that there is a difference in the tonsillar microbiota between PTH and control patients. The results suggest that Neisseria, Capnocytophaga, and Veillonella may be associated with the development of PTH. These findings provide new insights into the potential role of the tonsillar microbiota in the development of PTH, and may help to develop new strategies for preventing and treating this potentially life-threatening complication.

Post-tonsillectomy bleeding rate decreases with limitation in maximum post-operative ibuprofen dosage: A quality improvement study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of a reduction in the prescribed post-operative ibuprofen dosage on frequency of post-tonsillectomy bleeding. METHODS: A quality improvement study was conducted at a single tertiary care pediatric hospital with patients weighing >40 kg undergoing tonsillectomy. The intervention was limiting the post-operative ibuprofen dosage to a maximum of 400 mg per dose. Data was collected on all patients returning to the hospital with bleeding after tonsillectomy. The primary outcome was the rate of post-tonsillectomy bleeding. Statistical analysis was conducted using nonparametric comparisons and a run chart. RESULTS: A total of 199 tonsillectomy patients >40 kg were included in the study. There were 119 (59.8 %) females and 80 (40.2 %) males total. The pre-intervention group had a total of 56 patients while the post-intervention group had a total of 143 patients. There was no statistical difference in age, weight, or sex between the pre- and post-intervention groups (p > .05). The post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage rate was 11/56 (19.6 %) before the intervention, and 11/143 (7.7 %) after the intervention (p = .016). Children who experienced a bleeding event were significantly older (mean 15.9 years, 95 % CI 14.5-17.3) than those who did not (13.5 years, 95 % CI 12.9-14.1; p = .011). The run chart revealed that the intervention resulted in a nonrandom decrease in rate of post-tonsillectomy bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Post-tonsillectomy bleeding rate decreased with a ceiling post-operative ibuprofen dose of 400 mg/dose in this quality improvement study. Further research is warranted.

Secondary Postoperative Hemorrhage in the Pediatric Tonsillectomy Patient- is there a correlation between hemorrhage and tonsilloliths?

INTRODUCTION: Tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy is one of the most common ambulatory procedures performed in children under 15. One rare yet serious complication of tonsillectomy is postoperative hemorrhage. Chronic tonsillitis, which is an indication for tonsillectomy, has been shown to have an increased risk for postoperative hemorrhage. Tonsilloliths or tonsil stones have been associated with cryptic tonsillitis. This 2020-2021 study examined whether tonsilloliths were a risk factor for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage in a convenience sample of 187 pediatric patients. METHODS: This was a cross-institutional 12-month retrospective cohort study investigating pediatric patients who had undergone tonsillectomy. Exclusion criteria included patients who had received prior airway surgeries (e.g., supraglottoplasty), patients with significant comorbidities such as chromosomal abnormalities or congenital disorders, and patients with pre-existing bleeding disorders. Demographic, clinical, and operative data was extracted from each chart. Postoperative adverse events and bleeding were also recorded. These factors were then compared between the tonsillolith and no tonsillolith patient groups. RESULTS: A total of 187 pediatric patients met the inclusion criteria. Seventy-three (39%) of the patients had tonsilloliths and 114 (61%) did not have tonsilloliths at the time of surgery. The tonsillolith subgroup had a higher median age (10 vs 3, P < 0.001) when compared to the no tonsillolith subgroup. The most common indication for tonsillectomy was obstructive sleep apnea/sleep disordered breathing (N= 148, 79.1%). There was no statistical difference found between presence of tonsillolith and indication for surgery (P = 0.06). Only five (2.7%) of sample patients experienced postoperative bleeding and there was no association found between postoperative bleeding and presence of tonsilloliths (P = 0.38). CONCLUSION: In the current study there was no association found between the presence of tonsilloliths (indicating low grade chronic inflammation) and hemorrhage after tonsillectomy. Continued larger sample evaluations of possible risk factors for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage patterns are encouraged.

Management of a Large Post-tonsillectomy Thrombus Obstructing the Laryngeal View: A Case Report.

Anesthetic management of children with a post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage can be challenging. The patients may be anemic and hypovolemic and are at increased risk of having a difficult airway due to active bleeding, vomiting, and anatomical issues. A clot may also interfere with viewing the larynx, further exacerbating the difficulty of intubation. We describe a pediatric post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage case complicated by a large obstructing clot that was removed with Magill forceps after the airway was successfully secured with an endotracheal tube during rapid sequence induction.

Effect of Body Mass Index on Post Tonsillectomy Hemorrhages.

AIMS: Obesity affects adverse outcomes in patients undergoing various surgeries. The study was carried out to assess the clinical association between body mass index and post tonsillectomy hemorrhages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was carried out on 60 patients, age between 5 and 40 years, admitted in Department of ENT with chronic tonsillitis. Body mass index and post tonsillectomy hemorrhage were evaluated in all patients who underwent surgery. Bleeding episode were categorized according to the Austrian tonsil study. RESULTS: This prospective study was carried out on 60 patients (adults and children), between December 2021 and November 2022. All patients underwent tonsillectomy under general anaesthesia. It was seen that most of the patients did not have any significant bleeding i.e., Grade A1 (Dry, no clot), and A2 (Clot, but no active bleeding after clot removal) whereas 4 patients (6.7%) had Grade B1 post tonsillectomy hemorrhage (Minimal bleeding requiring minimal intervention by vasoconstriction using adrenaline swab). Post tonsillectomy hemorrhage was seen more in adults. Post tonsillectomy bleeding of Grade B1 was recored in 28.6% of underweight patients, 8% of normal weight patients and no significant bleeding occurred in any of the overweight and obese patients (p-value 0.256). CONCLUSION: Overweight and obesity (higher BMI) did not increase the risk of post tonsillectomy hemorrhage in either children or adults.

Treatment of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage with nebulized tranexamic acid: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of treatment with nebulized tranexamic acid (TXA) with rates of operative intervention in post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH). METHODS: Single tertiary-referral center and satellite hospitals, retrospective cohort of adult and pediatric patients who were diagnosed with PTH in 2015-2022 and treated with nebulized TXA and standard care, compared with an age- and gender-matched control cohort treated with standard care. Patients were typically treated in the emergency department with a single dose of 500mg/5 mL TXA delivered via nebulizer. RESULTS: 1110 total cases of PTH were observed, and 83 were treated with nebulized TXA. Compared to 249 age- and gender-matched PTH controls, TXA-treated patients had a rate of operating room (OR) intervention of 36.1% versus 60.2% (p < 0.0001) and a rate of repeat bleeding of 4.9% versus 14.2% (p < 0.02). The odds ratio for OR intervention with TXA treatment was 0.37 (95% CI 0.22, 0.63). There were no adverse effects identified with an average follow-up time of 586 days. CONCLUSION: Treatment of PTH with nebulized TXA is associated with lower rates of operative intervention and lower rates of repeat bleeding events. Prospective studies are needed to further characterize efficacy and optimal treatment protocols.

Hemostasis for a Post-tonsillectomy Hemorrhage in a Patient With Coronavirus Disease.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, otolaryngologists should be careful when performing upper airway surgery because of the risk of aerosol generation. This paper describes the case of a 23-year-old male who was diagnosed with COVID-19 four days after undergoing tonsillectomy. COVID-19 was complicated by pulmonary thromboembolism, and anticoagulation was administered, which caused postoperative hemorrhage. The patient had to undergo another surgery for the control of hemorrhage, during the infective period of COVID-19. COVID-19 is sometimes associated with venous embolism, and for postoperative patients, treatment should be carefully considered because of the risk of bleeding. The administration of heparin as an anticoagulant would be preferable because heparin allows for dosage adjustment by measuring activated partial thromboplastin time and also allows the rapid cessation of the anticoagulant effect when the administration is discontinued together with antagonization by protamine administration, even if bleeding occurs. When performing surgery for patients with COVID-19, special care is necessary in order not to spread the infection. Even if the preoperative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is negative, the patient may be in the incubation period of COVID-19; therefore, caution should be exercised when performing upper respiratory tract surgery such as tonsillectomy.

Associations Between Post-tonsillectomy Hemorrhage and Anatomical Subsites of the Tonsillar Fossa.

OBJECTIVE: This study presents a novel classification of the anatomical subsites of the tonsillar fossa and discusses their associations with post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) after extracapsular tonsillectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Coblation tonsillectomy was performed on three adult cadavers and the anatomical subsites of the tonsillar fossa based on the distribution of the tonsillar feeding artery: the upper pole (subsite A), most of the tonsil body (subsite B), the inferior tonsil body (subsite C), and components of the lower pole (subsites D and E). Extracapsular tonsillectomy was prospectively performed using various surgical techniques and PTH was evaluated. RESULTS: A cadaveric study revealed that the intra- and extra-capsular vessel topographies were essentially identical. Although the demarcation lines varied either up or down by a few millimeters, the arterial vascular network was particularly dense at subsites D and E, and the vessel diameter at these subsites was significantly greater than at subsite C and also (especially) at subsite E. Of 680 patients who underwent tonsillectomy, PTH developed early in 13 (31.7%) and late in 28 (68.3%). Surgical interventions were required by 29/41 patients (70.7%). Subsites D and E were the most common subsites of late PTH and PTH that required intervention. Such intervention was rarely necessary when PTH developed at subsite A or B. CONCLUSIONS: The new classification of the anatomical subsites of the tonsillar fossa aids inexperienced surgeons and provides an anatomical rationale for variation in surgical technique that minimizes vascular injury, thus improving safety.

Assessing the Relationship Between Infection Frequency and Risk of Post-Tonsillectomy Hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between frequency of tonsillitis and the risk of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis. METHODS: After obtaining IRB approval from Nationwide Children's Hospital, charts for all patients who underwent a total tonsillectomy in 2017 for recurrent or chronic tonsillitis were retrospectively reviewed (n = 424). Patients were divided into 2 cohorts based on the frequency of tonsillitis prior to surgery: those meeting the 1-year criteria with 7 or more infections in the past year (n = 100), and those who did not meet criteria defined as those with fewer than 7 infections in the past year (n = 324). The primary outcome of interest was PTH. Comparison of cohorts and frequency of PTH were assessed using bivariate analyses. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare time to onset of hemorrhage between primary vs. secondary PTH. Generalized mixed and logistic regression models were used to evaluate risk of hemorrhage following tonsillectomy. RESULTS: Among a total cohort of 424 patients undergoing tonsillectomy, 23.58% (n = 100) met criteria while 76.42% (n = 324) did not. A total of 8.73% (n = 37) patients experienced PTH. Compared to those who did not meet criteria, those who met criteria had a higher odds of developing PTH; however, this was not significant (OR: 1.42 [95% CI: 0.67, 2.98], P = .3582). Estimated probability of developing PTH for those who met criteria was 11% [95% CI: 6.19, 18.81] compared to 8.03% [95% CI: 5.52, 11.54] for those who did not meet criteria. Among all PTH cases, 5.41% (n = 2) were primary hemorrhage while 94.59% (n = 35) were secondary hemorrhage with 50% of those with secondary PTH having experienced hemorrhage within 6 days [95% CI: 5, 7] of tonsillectomy. Patients with neuromuscular conditions had significantly higher odds of PTH (OR: 4.75 [95% CI: 1.19, 18.97], P = .0276). CONCLUSION: Patients who met the 1-year criteria for tonsillectomy did not have a significantly higher odds of PTH. Further research is needed to better evaluate the relationship between infection frequency and risk of PTH.

Tonsillectomy Outcomes for Coblation Versus Bipolar Diathermy Techniques in Adult Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: There is no consensus on the optimal tonsillectomy technique in adult patients. The study aims to identify all studies comparing the outcomes of coblation versus bipolar diathermy in adult patients undergoing tonsillectomy. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Primary outcomes were hemorrhage and postoperative pain. Secondary outcome measures included return to theatre, analgesia, intraoperative bleeding, diet, tonsillar healing, and operation time. Fixed-effects modeling was used for the analysis. RESULTS: Six studies were identified enrolling a total of 1824 patients. There were no significant differences in terms of reactionary hemorrhage (OR = 1.81, P = .51), delayed hemorrhage (OR = 0.72, P = .20), or postoperative pain (mean difference = -0.15, P = .45); however, there is a general trend favuring coblation. For secondary outcomes, no significant differences noted in terms of intraoperative bleeding, diet, and cases returning to theatre. Analgesia administration was either insignificant or higher in the coblation group. The coblation group had longer operation time and greater healing effect on tonsillar tissue. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in outcomes for coblation and bipolar diathermy for adult tonsillectomy patients in this systematic review and meta-analysis.

Effect of ibuprofen on severity of surgically-managed pediatric post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: The association between ibuprofen use and severity of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) remains unclear. We aimed to compare PTH severity in patients who did or did not receive ibuprofen. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients requiring operative control of PTH at a tertiary children's hospital between 2015 and 2019 was performed. PTH severity was assessed using pre-tonsillectomy and post-hemorrhage hemoglobin and hematocrit values, estimated intraoperative blood loss, estimated hemorrhage flow rate, and need for transfusion. Differences in hemorrhage severity markers between the two cohorts were compared. RESULTS: A total of 168 consecutive patients were included in this study. The mean age was 8.8 years, and 55.4% of patients were male. Sixty-five patients (38.7%) received ibuprofen postoperatively. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean change in hemoglobin (1.1 vs. 1.1, P = 0.85) or hematocrit (3.1 vs. 3.2, P = 0.97) between patients who received ibuprofen compared to those who did not. Similarly, there were no significant differences in need for transfusion (3.1% vs. 3.9%, P = 1.00) or occurrence of high-flow (arterial) blood loss (33.8% vs. 40.8%, P = 0.42) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Postoperative ibuprofen use does not appear to significantly increase PTH severity, as measured by change in hemoglobin and hematocrit values, need for transfusion, or presence of high-flow blood loss. This study introduces previously unexplored markers to assess PTH severity and supports further prospective studies to determine the effect of ibuprofen on PTH severity.

Efficacy of tranexamic acid (TXA) for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: To determine if tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces the need for operative re-cauterization in the setting of a post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH). METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on 1428 adult and pediatric patients who underwent tonsillectomy over a two-year period at a tertiary care hospital with continuous otolaryngologic coverage. Collected data of PTH patients included age, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, length of stay (LOS), the requirement of a blood transfusion, day of PTH, TXA usage and route, complications from TXA administration, and TXA failure requiring operative intervention. RESULTS: The incidence of pediatric PTH during the study period was 5.7 %. Twenty-seven out of fifty-five PTH patients received topical, nebulized, or intravenous TXA. No adverse effects were noted with TXA administration. TXA usage provided resolution of the PTH in 77.8 % of patients. No significant differences were found in age, gender, BMI, LOS, ASA classification, rate of blood transfusion, or TXA treatment modality between the patients that received TXA and those that did not. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of PTH with TXA appears to reduce the need for operative control of PTH. In the setting of reducing operative risk, improving health care utilization, or in a setting without immediate otolaryngologic provider coverage, the role of TXA is promising. Further larger clinical or multi-institution studies are needed to determine the efficacy of TXA, its route of administration, and its optimal dosage. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4, Retrospective cohort study.

Efficacy of Topical Silver Nitrate for Control of Post-tonsillectomy Hemorrhage.

Objective Management of patients with post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) is not well defined but may include observation, topical bedside treatments, or return to the operating room. Data on the use and efficacy of silver nitrate as a topical bedside agent for the management of PTH remain unexplored. Our primary objective was to assess the efficacy of silver nitrate in reducing the need for operative control of PTH. Methods Single-institution retrospective chart review included patients aged 5-18 years who presented with tonsillar bleeding within 30 days of tonsillectomy. Patients undergoing observation or bedside silver nitrate cautery were compared based on clinical characteristics and experience of the physician performing the procedure. The outcome of interest was rebleeding requiring operative control. Sample characteristics according to treatment modality were described using Fisher's exact tests and ANOVA. Results Of the patients eligible for inclusion, 29 (20%) were observed and 70 (48.3%) were treated with topical silver nitrate. Age was the only statistically significant clinical difference among treatment groups. The silver nitrate group had more patients who underwent operative control of PTH compared to the observation group (p = 0.004). When comparing the need for operative control between the observation group and patients who had initial success with silver nitrate, there was no difference (p = 0.29). No differences were found in the rate of bleeding requiring operative control when comparing experience of the physician performing the procedure (p = 0.20). Conclusion More patients who underwent silver nitrate cautery required PTH control in the operating room compared to the observation group. This may be due to patient selection as our results also suggest that there is no statistical difference in rates of operative control of PTH when comparing initial successful treatment with topical silver nitrate to observation. Age is likely a factor that was used by physicians in this study to decide the initial management of PTH. Provider experience does not appear to affect rebleeding rates. Future studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical impact of silver nitrate in the context of PTH and will benefit from more robust sample sizes and enhanced diversity in the sample group.

Adult tonsillectomy: An evaluation of indications and complications.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate current adult tonsillectomy indications along with risk factors associated with postoperative complications. METHODS: In this retrospective chart review, demographic, clinical, and surgical data were collected from 2004 to 2020 of adult patients who underwent tonsillectomy. Indications for surgery were categorized as infectious etiology, biopsy, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and tonsillar stones. Data regarding postoperative hemorrhage, emergency department (ED) visits, and readmissions were collected. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate factors associated with postoperative complications. RESULTS: 574 adults (mean age 32 years, 69.9% F vs. 30.1% M) were included. The most common indication was infections (62.2%), followed by biopsy (26.5%), tonsillar stones (6.8%), and OSA (4.5%). The highest frequency of postoperative bleeds (17.9%) occurred in the tonsillar stones cohort; however, the indication for surgery was not a significant predictor on multivariate analysis. Male sex and younger age were independent predictors of postoperative bleeding, while younger age was a significant predictor of postoperative ED visits. There was a significant linear trend of an increasing proportion of tonsillectomies performed for tonsillar stones compared to other indications for 2011-2019. CONCLUSION: Infectious etiology was the most common indication for tonsillectomy. Indication for surgery was not a significant predictor of postoperative bleeding; however, male sex and younger age had higher odds of postoperative bleeding. The proportion of tonsillectomies performed for tonsillar stones was steadily increasing.

Pediatric Anesthesia Management for Post-Tonsillectomy Bleed: Current Status and Future Directions.

After medical stabilization, several techniques are considered for anesthesia in the surgical intervention of post-tonsillectomy bleeding in children. Hypoxia during induction of general anesthesia occurs more frequently than aspiration for this population. While classical (apneic) rapid sequence induction and intubation with cricoid pressure still has a role, controlled rapid sequence induction and intubation that incorporates mask ventilation at low pressure (<12 cm H2O) before direct laryngoscopy under a deep plane of anesthesia is a viable alternative for cases of slow venous bleeding. Supplemental oxygen delivery during laryngoscopy to permit apneic oxygenation is a future trend in management. While the routine administration of tranexamic acid during tonsillectomy has not been shown to be of benefit, it may have a role in post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage with further study.

Post-Tonsillectomy Ibuprofen: Is There a Dose-Dependent Bleeding Risk?

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) is a potentially life-threatening complication. A recent meta-analysis suggests that ibuprofen may increase the risk of PTH. The aims of this study were to 1) re-evaluate the effect of ibuprofen on PTH given additional recent evidence and 2) to evaluate a potential dose effect of ibuprofen. STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analysis and meta-regression; single-institution retrospective review. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis of 12 studies comparing postoperative ibuprofen analgesia to non-nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) controls. Next, we performed a meta-regression analysis to assess for an effect of dose, if any, on rates of PTH. Five studies specifying a dose of 5 mg/kg (828 patients, 1,411 controls) and 7 studies using 10 mg/kg (5,633 patients, 7,656 controls) were included. We then conducted a novel single-institution, retrospective review of data for 1,046 patients prescribed intermediate-dose 7.5 mg/kg ibuprofen. RESULTS: Ibuprofen was not associated with an increased rate of PTH (log odds ratio [OR], 0.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.15, 0.57). Meta-regression showed that ibuprofen dose (5 and 10 mg/kg) did not have a statistically significant effect on PTH (OR, 1.32; 95% CI 0.30, 5.84). Uncontrolled, aggregate rates of PTH across all studies were 2.29% (N = 828) for 5 mg/kg and 4.65% (N = 5,633) for 10 mg/kg dosing. The rate of secondary hemorrhage in patients prescribed 7.5 mg/kg ibuprofen was 3.10% (N = 1,046). CONCLUSION: We found no statistically significant increased risk of PTH when ibuprofen is prescribed at the low or high range of commonly used clinical dosages, compared to a non-ibuprofen regimen. Further studies with less heterogeneity are needed to determine if there is a clinically relevant dose-dependent difference in PTH with ibuprofen. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 132:1473-1481, 2022.

Comparison of celecoxib and acetaminophen for pain relief in pediatric day case tonsillectomy: A randomized double-blind study.

OBJECTIVE: Post-tonsillectomy pain is a common morbidity in children. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of celecoxib with acetaminophen on pain relief in pediatric day-case tonsillectomy. METHODS: We compared the analgesic effect of celecoxib (99 patients) with acetaminophen (100 patients) for the management of post-tonsillectomy pain. Post-tonsillectomy pain score was evaluated three times a day for 7 days. In addition, the incidence of post-tonsillectomy bleeding and the rate of patients who returned to regular diet were evaluated. RESULTS: In the first day, we observed lower mean pain score in the celecoxib group, than the acetaminophen group (P = 0.013). The overall pain score in other days was not significantly different between the two groups. In the celecoxib group, more patients resumed regular amount of oral intake within the first 3 days. Also, the rate of post-tonsillectomy bleeding in the two groups was not statistically different. CONCLUSION: We recommend celecoxib as a more suitable choice than acetaminophen for post-tonsillectomy pain management in the first day and resuming regular diet within 3 days.Level of Evidence: 1b.

Socioeconomic factors associated with readmission following pediatric tonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVES: We aim to analyze factors associated with readmission after tonsillectomy to understand socioeconomic factors associated with readmission. METHODS: Single institution retrospective study of pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy over an 8 year study period, comparing patients who required readmission for bleeding concerns or pain/dehydration to those who did not require readmission. RESULTS: Of the 14,152 tonsillectomy patients, 508 (3.6%) were readmitted with 423 (83.3%) for bleeding concerns and 85 (16.7%) for pain or dehydration. Overall readmission was more likely in age >6 years (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.34-1.92, P < 0.001), while poverty level below 10% (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66-0.94, P = 0.008) and parental college education above 25% (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65-0.96, P = 0.016) were associated with lower incidence of overall readmission. For patients readmitted for bleeding concerns, age >6 years (OR 1.66, 95% CI: 1.37-2.02, P < 0.001) was associated with readmission on multivariate analysis. Within the pain/dehydration group, African American race was associated with increased readmission rates, while poverty level below 10% and parental college education above 25% were associated with decreased readmission rates. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic factors and age play a role in readmission rates following pediatric tonsillectomy.

Detecting coagulopathy in pediatric patients with post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) is a serious complication after a tonsillectomy. Utility of lab work at presentation for PTH was low. This study aims to determine the frequency and type of labs drawn at emergency department (ED) presentation and assess the incidence of uncovering a previously unidentified coagulopathy. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on pediatric patients who were seen in the ED after tonsillectomy at a tertiary care children's hospital from 2017 to 2019. Exclusion criteria were the following: no tonsillar bleed, history of known coagulopathy, treated by outside provider, ≥18 years old. Lab work included complete blood count (CBC), prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and von Willebrand factor (VWF). RESULTS: 364/723 (50.3%) patients met inclusion criteria. 179/364 (49.2%) patients were male and 309/364 (84.9%) patients were Caucasian. Average age at surgery was 8.12 years (SD = 4.0) and average post-operative day at presentation was 6 days (SD = 2.1). Operative control of bleed was performed in 68/364 (18.7%) patients. 334/364 (91.8%) patients had labs drawn in the ED. 64/334 (19.1%) patients were anemic (hemoglobin (Hgb) < 11), 46/334 (13.8%) patients had thrombocytosis (platelets>450,000), 10/334 (3.0%) had elevated PTT and 8/334 (2.4%) had elevated PT. Hematology was consulted in 14/364 (3.8%) patients of whom 6/14 were diagnosed with von Willebrand disease and 1/14 with factor VII deficiency. Aminocaproic acid was used in 8/364 (2.2%) patients due to elevated PTT in 3/8 and multiple episodes of bleeding in 5/8.3/364 (0.8%) patients needed a blood transfusion. No difference was found in incidence of abnormal lab work in patients who did and did not need operative control of bleed (p = .125). Of the 334 patients who had ED labs drawn, 7 (2.1%) had an uncovered coagulopathy. CONCLUSION: Uncovering incidental coagulopathies is rare in patients who present with PTH. Though anemia was the most common abnormality noted, only a small percentage required transfusion, with all having abnormal vital signs. Thrombocytosis was the next common abnormality, and this can be seen in an inflammatory state. Developing algorithms is necessary to better guide appropriate lab work in patients who present with PTH and to provide optimal value of care to patients.