Tonsillectomy Performed on an Outpatient Basis: Report of a Series of 40,000 Cases Performed Without a Death

THE PURPOSE of this paper is to show that tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy can be performed with a high degree of safety on an outpatient basis. We are fully aware of the serious nature of this operation. The procedure, in our opinion, is a major operation fraught with many dangers. The literature¹⁻⁷is replete with examples of complications and many deaths have been recorded. It is our belief that these can be kept at a minimum if proper care is taken. Selection of Cases Emphasis is placed on the selection of cases and their preoperative medical evaluation. A careful history may reveal a bleeding tendency such as hemophilia, leukemia, or other blood dyscrasias. Sickle cell anemia and diabetes are looked for. Cardiac or renal disease may be found. Laboratory examinations include bleeding and clotting time, prothrombin time, platelet count, and a complete red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC)