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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
CO2-Lasertonsillotomy Under Local Anesthesia in Adults
Published on: November 6, 2019
A review of malpractice cases after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
Andrew R Simonsen1, James A Duncavage, Samuel S Becker
1University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, USA.
Objective:
To examine sources of litigation following tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy.
Study Design:
Analysis of malpractice claims filed after tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy provided by 16 medical liability insurance companies.
Setting:
Not applicable.
Subjects And Methods:
Data was obtained from 16 members of the Physician Insurers Association of America. All claims were either filed or closed between 1985 and 2006. Claims were evaluated and categorized according to the type of complication.
Results:
One hundred and fifty-four claims were identified between 1985 and 2006. Six categories were created based on frequency of claims (bleeding complication n=27 [17.5%], airway fire n=2 [1.5%], burns n=28 [18.2%], consent related n=9 [5.8%], medication related n=9 [5.8%] and residual tissue/recurrence n=9 [5.8%]). Other less frequent claims were grouped as miscellaneous n=70 [45.5%].
Conclusions:
A significant portion of malpractice claims following tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy are related to complications not commonly discussed in the literature.
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