Analyzing factors associated with major complications after adenotonsillectomy in 4776 patients: Comparing three tonsillectomy techniques

OBJECTIVE: To compare the rates of major complications (postoperative hemorrhage requiring return to the operating room or cauterization in the emergency department and dehydration requiring intravenous fluids or readmission) in a large cohort of children undergoing adenotonsillectomy by three different techniques. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review, case-controlled study. SETTING: Regional children's hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects comprised patients aged 1 to 18 years undergoing adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, or adenotonsillectomy by microdebrider, coblator, or Bovie over a 36-month period. Major complications identified were compared to two case-matched controls to try to identify patients at risk for major postoperative complications. RESULTS: The overall complication rate was 80 of 4776 (1.7 +/- 0.4% percent +/- 95% confidence interval). Of the 3362 patients who received either an adenotonsillectomy or tonsillectomy alone, 80 had a complication (2.3 +/- 0.5%). Major complication rates differed among tonsil removal techniques: 34 of 1235 (2.8 +/- 0.9%) coblation; 40 of 1289 (3.1 +/- 0.9%) electrocautery; six of 824 (0.7 +/- 0.7%) microdebrider (P < 0.001). Postoperative hemorrhage occurred in older children (8.5 vs 5.5 years; P < 0.001), while age did not influence postsurgical dehydration (5.33 vs 5.49 years). The case-control portion of the study did not find any reliable way to identify patients at risk for complications during adenotonsillectomy. Identity of the surgeon was not a confounding independent variable, nor was participation by resident surgeons. CONCLUSION: In this "real life" teaching hospital surgical setting in which three different techniques of tonsillectomy are routinely performed by a variety of resident and attending surgeons, microdebrider intracapsular tonsillectomy is associated with lower rates of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage and dehydration when compared to coblation and electrocautery complete tonsillectomy technique.