Tonsillectomy complications in children and adults

Abstract

Tonsilectomy is one of the most commom surgerys, although its number has been decreasing since seventies. It is consider a routine procedure, but it is not free of risk and can have numerous complications. Aim of our study is to determine complications of clasic technique tonsilectomy in general endotracheal anestesia in children and adults that required intervention. This is a retrospective study of 2325 tonsilectomies done in the period from 2001 till 2010 at ENT Clinic, Clinical Centre Kragujevac. Out of 2325 tonsilectomies 1935(83%) were done in children, while 390(17%) were done in adults. In children 1167(60%) were pure adenectomies, while the rest, 768(40%) were tonsilectomies. Complications that required intervention were present in 1.6% of patients. Bleeding that required revision and hemostasis in ER has developed in 15(0.6%) patients, 12 (3.07) children and 3 (0.15%) adults. One child has a severe bleeding after adenectomy which required posteral tamponade. One adult developed severe bleeding that required ligate of a.carotis externa. High body temperature and dehidration developed in 23 (1.18%) children which required pediatrian examination. One child developed appendicitis, and three of them pneumonia. The most common tonsilectomy complication inadults is bleeding, and in children elevated body temperature and dehidration.