Bleeding after tonsillectomy was associated to hypertension and dissection with diathermy, but not surgical experience

Objective: To analyze risk factors for postoperative bleeding after tonsillectomy (TE), and differences in bleeding frequency between 2017 and 2018. Study design: This is a retrospective cohort study. Setting: The Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, region of Östergötland, Sweden. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all 402 consecutive cases of TE in the region of Östergötland, Sweden 2017-2018. Patients were followed for at least 30 days after surgery. Demographics, comorbidity, surgical experience, potential risk factors and postoperative complications were registered. The primary endpoint was postoperative bleeding. Results: Twenty-four of 402 (6%) patients had a postoperative bleeding after tonsillectomy. Hypertension and dissection with bipolar diathermy respectively were identified as independent, statistically significant risk factors for bleeding, in both uniand multivariate analysis. Surgical experience was not significantly associated to bleedings after TE. Conclusion: Hypertension and dissection with bipolar diathermy are individual risk factors for postoperative bleeding following tonsillectomy, but not surgical experience. *Correspondence to: Lovisa Farnebo, Department of OtorhinolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, Linköping University Hospital, 58185 Linköping, Sweden, Tel: +46702640330; E-mail: lovisa.farnebo@regionostergotland.se