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Indirect visualisation of the upper pole during tonsillectomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2018

H Walijee ,
M Krishnan ,
R Sharma  and
S De
H Walijee*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
M Krishnan
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
R Sharma
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
S De
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Hussein Walijee, 11 Barkhill Road, Chester CH3 5JQ, UK Fax: +44 (0)151 252 8301 E-mail: hwalijee@gmail.com
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Abstract

Background:

During tonsillectomy, one of the key concerns is establishing adequate haemostasis. Intra-operative haemorrhage from the upper pole of the tonsil fossae can be a challenge to deal with because of an inability to clearly visualise bleeding points. Laryngeal mirrors are readily available in an ENT operating theatre and routinely used for indirect visualisation of the post-nasal space during adenoidectomy.

Objective:

This paper describes a technique, utilising a laryngeal mirror placed within the tonsil fossa (after having removed the palatine tonsil), to visualise the upper pole and any bleeding points.

Results and conclusion:

Laryngeal mirrors can be used with case to inspect the tonsil fossa post-tonsillectomy for bleeding points which may not be directly visible, so that these can be cauterised.

Keywords

TonsillectomyHemostasisHemorrhage
Type
Short Communications
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 132 , Issue 5 , May 2018 , pp. 461 - 462
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2018 

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References

1Barr, GD. How to reduce diathermy in tonsillectomy: description of technique and analysis of results. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2007;264:669–73.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Lowe, D, van der Meulen, J, Cromwell, D, Lewsey, J, Copley, L, Browne, J et al. Key messages from the national prospective tonsillectomy audit. The Laryngoscope 2007;117:717–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed