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Secondary tonsillectomy haemorrhage and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

I. Smith  and
A. Wilde
I. Smith*
Affiliation:
From the Department of Otolaryngology, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Huddersfield, UK.
A. Wilde
Affiliation:
From the Department of Otolaryngology, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Huddersfield, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Ian Smith, ENT Specialist Registrar, Hull Royal Infirmary, Anlaby Road, Hull HU3 2JZ.
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Abstract

Modern non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are now widely accepted analgesics for posttonsillectomy patients, but their effect on secondary haemorrhage has not been fully evaluated.

This study attempts to evalute the influence of NSAIDs on the secondary haemorrhage rate, and also whether mode of dissection is an important factor.

The records of 557 consecutive patients undergoing tonsillectomy were studied to determine if there was a relationship between the secondary haemorrhage rate and discharge prescription of NSAIDs.

There was an overall secondary haemorrhage rate of 5.2 per cent (29) and a significantly increased secondary haemorrhage rate in those taking regular NSAIDs, 11 per cent, compared to those not taking NSAIDs, 1.47 per cent, ().

There was a higher rate of secondary haemorrhages with bipolar dissection than with standard dissection for both those taking and not taking NSAIDs (13 per cent vs seven per cent and 2.75 per cent vs 0.87 per cent) however this was not statistically significant ( and ). Both bipolar dissection and standard dissection individually showed very significant increases in secondary haemorrhage rate when on regular NSAIDs ( and ).

Although NSAIDs are very good analgesics, they may cause an increased secondary haemorrhage rate, and should be prescribed at discharge prescription with caution.

Keywords

TonsillectomyHaemorrhageAnalgesianon-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 113 , Issue 1 , January 1999 , pp. 28 - 30
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1999

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