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Does hydrogen peroxide mouthwash improve the outcome of secondary post-tonsillectomy bleed? A 10-year review

Irumee Pai1, Stephen Lo, Satsuki Brown

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, St. George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, London, UK. irumeepai@hotmail.com

Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery : Official Journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
|August 10, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) mouthwash did not improve outcomes for secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage in children. This study found no significant differences in rehospitalization duration, surgical intervention rates, or readmission rates between groups using H2O2 and those who did not.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage is a common complication in pediatric patients.
  • Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) mouthwash is sometimes used to manage post-tonsillectomy bleeding.
  • Evidence supporting the efficacy of H2O2 in preventing or treating this complication is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) mouthwash in managing secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage in children.
  • To compare rehospitalization duration, surgical intervention rates, and readmission rates in pediatric patients who received H2O2 mouthwash versus those who did not.

Main Methods:

  • A 10-year retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary otolaryngology center.
  • Data from 156 pediatric patients experiencing secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage were analyzed.
  • Patients were divided into two groups: those who received H2O2 mouthwash (n=59) and a control group (n=97). All patients received intravenous antibiotics.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant difference was observed in rehospitalization duration due to hemorrhage between the H2O2 group (1.7 days) and the control group (1.6 days) (P = 0.49).
  • The rate of surgical intervention was similar in both groups: 8.5% in the H2O2 group versus 10.3% in the control group (P = 0.85).
  • The incidence of further hemorrhage episodes requiring readmission was comparable: 3.4% in the H2O2 group and 3.1% in the control group (P = 0.92).

Conclusions:

  • Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) mouthwash does not appear to improve the clinical outcomes for secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage in pediatric patients.
  • The findings do not support the routine use of H2O2 mouthwash for managing post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage in children.
  • Current clinical practice of using H2O2 for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage is not supported by this study's evidence.
Abstract

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