Significantly reducing post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring surgery by double-layer suture: A retrospective...

Although tonsillectomies carry a low-risk for adverse events, postoperative hemorrhage has been reported as the most common complication.

To compare the rates of postoperative secondary hemorrhage for tonsillectomy with or without double-layer suture.

This is a retrospective study of 5087 patients who underwent coblation tonsillectomy with or without suture from 2006 to 2016. All cases had been followed up 3 weeks and severe secondary hemorrhage cases requiring operation were analyzed.

The severe secondary hemorrhage rate was statistically higher in group without suture (1.96%) as compared with the group with suture (1.08%). The surgery time (36.55 ± 7.45) was longer in patients with suture as compared to patients without suture (31.50 ± 6.23). In the age between 18 and 49 years group, the higher secondary hemorrhage rate (2.44%) was found in patients without suture. The rate of postoperative hemorrhage (0.96%) was significantly higher in patients without suture as compared with patients with suture (0.36%) on postoperative 5th day.

The risk of severe secondary hemorrhage is reduced in coblation tonsillectomy with suture. The rate of secondary hemorrhage is lower in patients with suture in 18 to 49 years old group and on the 5th day after surgery.