Complications Associated with the Surgical Instruments Used in Tonsillectomies

Tonsillectomy is an old surgical procedure whose frequency has declined, especially since the marketing of antibiotics that can counter tonsillitis. A number of different surgical instruments can be used to perform a complete or partial tonsillectomy.

The morbidity associated with tonsillectomy is usually in the form of pain, and the most common complication of this operation is hemorrhage. Hemorrhage can occur during (intraoperatively) and after (postoperatively) the procedure. There are two types of postoperative hemorrhage: primary or immediate (which occurs within 24 hours after the procedure) and secondary or delayed (which occurs after 24 hours). Severe postoperative hemorrhage is rare, but it can cause death.

INESSS looked into the surgical instruments used in tonsillectomies. In this report, the focus is on the hemorrhage and deaths that have occurred during or after the procedure according to the instrument used. A systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted to evaluate the available evidence regarding post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage and deaths.