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Is weekend surgery a risk factor for post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2016

A Patel ,
N Foden  and
A Rachmanidou
A Patel*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, University Hospital Lewisham, UK
N Foden
Affiliation:
ENT Department, University Hospital Lewisham, UK
A Rachmanidou
Affiliation:
ENT Department, University Hospital Lewisham, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr A Patel, 9 Elstree Hill, Bromley BR1 4JE, UK Fax: 020 8333 333 E-mail: ankitpatel@doctors.org.uk
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Abstract

Background:

Tonsillectomy is a common, low-risk procedure. Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage remains the most serious complication. Recent nationwide studies in the UK have identified an increased morbidity and mortality for both high-risk and low-risk elective general surgery performed at the weekend.

Methods:

Data for tonsillectomies performed at a district general hospital over a three-year period were retrospectively reviewed. The same group of surgeons performed elective tonsillectomies on both weekends and weekdays. All patients who developed a post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage were identified and the day of original operation was noted.

Results:

Between 2010 and 2013, 2208 (94.00 per cent) elective tonsillectomies were performed on a weekday and 141 (6.00 per cent) were performed on the weekend. Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhages occurred in 104 patients (4.71 per cent) who underwent their procedure on a weekday and in 10 patients (7.09 per cent) who had their surgery at the weekend (p = 0.20).

Conclusion:

There is no difference in the rate of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage for procedures performed on a weekday or weekend.

Keywords

TonsillectomyPostoperative HemorrhageElective Surgical Procedures

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 130 , Issue 8 , August 2016 , pp. 763 - 767
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2016 

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Footnotes

Presented at the 16th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (‘ASEAN’) Otolaryngology – Head Neck Surgery Congress, 11–13 November 2015, Chiang Mai, Thailand, and at the Society of Academic and Research Surgery, 6–7 January 2016, London, UK.

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