Hemorrhage after adenotonsillectomy in children: tertiary center experiences

Alma Jahić Čampara1,2, Selmira Brkić2, Anis Cerovac3,4

  • 1Clinic for Anesthesiology and Reanimatology, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Insights

Postoperative hemorrhage occurred in 9.5% of children after adenotonsillectomy, with secondary bleeding being more common. Female children experienced significantly more bleeding events following this common pediatric surgery.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Surgical Complications

Background:

  • Adenotonsillectomy is a frequent pediatric surgical procedure.
  • Postoperative hemorrhage is a significant, albeit uncommon, complication.
  • Understanding hemorrhage patterns is crucial for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To ascertain the incidence of hemorrhage post-adenotonsillectomy in children.
  • To analyze hemorrhage rates in relation to patient age and sex.
  • To identify common sites of bleeding.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal, cross-sectional study design was employed.
  • Data were collected from 201 children aged 3-15 years undergoing adenotonsillectomy.
  • Patient demographics and hemorrhage events were recorded over a 1.5-year period.

Main Results:

  • The overall postoperative hemorrhage rate was 9.5% (19/201 children).
  • Secondary hemorrhage (53%) was more frequent than primary hemorrhage (47%).
  • Female children exhibited a significantly higher incidence of postoperative bleeding.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides data on pediatric adenotonsillectomy hemorrhage incidence and characteristics.
  • Findings suggest a higher risk of bleeding in female pediatric patients.
  • Hemorrhage from tonsillar lodges is a notable observation.
Abstract

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