Does Microscope Assistance in Cold Steel Tonsillectomy Reduce the Risk of Postoperative Hemorrhage? Results of a Prospective Cohort Study

Background. Posttonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) is the most feared complication. Dissection near the tonsillar capsule under microscopic view (TEmic) could be assumed to decrease PTH compared to traditional tonsillectomy (TEtrad). Methods. In this study, patients were evaluated with respect to the ne...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Thomas Wilhelm, Jan Wittlinger, Robert Georgiew, Christian Güldner, Stephan Hoch, Afshin Teymoortash, Thomas Günzel, Petar Stankovic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2017-01-01
Series:International Journal of Otolaryngology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/8430907
Description
Summary:Background. Posttonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) is the most feared complication. Dissection near the tonsillar capsule under microscopic view (TEmic) could be assumed to decrease PTH compared to traditional tonsillectomy (TEtrad). Methods. In this study, patients were evaluated with respect to the need for surgical control (R/N: return/no return to theater (RTT): the day of surgery [0] or thereafter [1]). The findings at resection site and pain were measured. Results. 869 patients were included (183 TEmic; 686 TEtrad). PTH requiring RTT was not seen in the TEmic group on the day of surgery (R0) while PTH requiring RTT subsequently (R1) was seen in 1.1% of the cases. In the TEmic group, hemorrhages without a need for surgical control were observed in 0.6% (N0) and 3.4% (N1), respectively. The corresponding rates for TEtrad were as follows: R0, 0.3%; R1, 1.7%; N0, 0.6%; and N1, 3.6% (p>0.05). Postoperative edema and local infection at resection site were proven to be predictive of PTH (p=0.007). Conclusion. Microscope assistance in tonsillectomy did not statistically have an influence on the PTH even though there was a trend towards lower PTH rate in the TEmic group. Benefit for TEmic was observed in high-volume and long experienced surgeons.
ISSN:1687-9201
1687-921X