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Bleeding following coblation tonsillectomy: a 10-year, single-surgeon audit and modified grading system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2014

M A Rogers ,
C Frauenfelder ,
C Woods ,
C Wee  and
A S Carney
M A Rogers
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
C Frauenfelder
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
C Woods
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
C Wee
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
A S Carney*
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Prof A Simon Carney, c/o Southern ENT, Suite 200, Flinders Private Hospital, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia Fax: +61 8 82199908 E-mail: simoncarney@me.com
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Abstract

Objective:

Coblation tonsillectomy can be controversial. This study assessed post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage outcomes for patients operated on by a single experienced coblation-trained ENT surgeon.

Study design:

A retrospective audit of coblation tonsillectomies was performed using the Flinders modification of Stammberger criteria for post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage.

Method:

Case note review, interview and database interrogation were utilised to obtain the dataset. Haemorrhage results were compared to reports in the current literature.

Results:

Of those who underwent coblation tonsillectomy, 3.4 per cent were readmitted to hospital with haemorrhage and 1.3 per cent returned to the operating theatre (0.4 per cent primary haemorrhage and 0.9 per cent secondary haemorrhage). Younger children had a lower risk of returning to the operating theatre than older children or adults (0.3 per cent under the age of 12 years vs 2.0 per cent aged 12 years or older).

Conclusion:

Coblation can be a safe method for tonsillectomy with low complication rates when performed by an experienced ENT surgeon. The Flinders modification of the Stammberger criteria for post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage provides a simple system for data comparison.

Keywords

TonsillectomyAblation TechniquesPostoperative HemorrhageComplicationsPalatine TonsilData CollectionAdverse Effects
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 129 , Issue S1 , January 2015 , pp. S32 - S37
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2014 

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Footnotes

Presented at the Australian Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (ASOHNS) Annual Scientific Meeting, 18 March 2013, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

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