Author(s)

Zahraa A. Abdeen, Worood A. Husain, Alaa Q. Mandeel, Sayed Mohamed J. Almoosawi

Department of Otorhionlaryngology, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.

Background: Palatine tonsils are part of the immune system located within the Waldeyer’s ring, they are prone to infections, hypertrophy or both. These conditions are known as tonsil diseases that usually require surgical removal through tonsillectomy. Tonsillectomy is one of the most common procedures done for children but it is challenged by the occurrence of complications, especially post tonsillectomy bleeding (PTB). In the current study, the incidence of post tonsillectomy bleeding in children younger than 14 years undergoing tonsillectomy in Salmaniya Medical Complex is evaluated and their demographic data and risk factors are assessed. Method: Pediatric patients who are younger than 14 years with postoperative tonsillectomy bleeding that were treated in Salmaniya Medical Complex between the period of January 2018 and December 2019 were retrospectively studied for risk factors. Results: A total of 1161 patients within the age range of 2 - 13 years old underwent tonsillectomy in Salmaniya Medical Complex from the period of January 2018 to December 2019. Twenty-eight pediatric patients had post-tonsillectomy bleeding (PTB) during the study period with an incidence of 2.4% of the total number of pediatric tonsillectomies done in our institute. The majority were male patients and the mean age was 6.2 years. The main indication of tonsillectomy for those with bleeding was recurrent tonsillitis. A second surgery was needed in 64.5% to control the bleeding. The size of the tonsil, the level of the surgeon and the season at which the tonsillectomy was done did not seem to have any effect on the incidence of post-tonsillectomy bleeding (PTB). Conclusion: The incidence of post tonsillectomy bleeding (PTB) in Salmaniya Medical Complex is 2.4%, which makes it a common complication for a common surgery irrelevant to any patient, surgeon or climate related factors.

Pediatric Tonsillectomy, Post Tonsillectomy Bleeding (PTB), Primary Post Tonsillectomy Bleeding, Secondary Post-Tonsillectomy Bleeding, Tonsillectomy

Abdeen, Z. , Husain, W. , Mandeel, A. and Almoosawi, S. (2020) Post Tonsillectomy Bleeding among Children in a Tertiary Hospital in the Kingdom of Bahrain: Two Years Experience. International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, 9, 203-212. doi: 10.4236/ijohns.2020.96024.