Sutures and Disasters in Tonsillectomy

Abstract

IS THERE an actual specific single cause of sudden, severe, late, or so-called secondary posttonsillectomy hemorrhage? I believe the answer to this question can be found in an analysis of a series of four cases encountered over a span of ten years. The first two catastrophies occurred within two months in 1956, but preceding them was a series of 1,500 tonsillectomies performed without undue difficulty. I mention that an incidence of posttonsillectomy bleeding, primary or secondary, of 1.7% in 1,500 cases, was the lowest of the five surgeons regularly performing tonsillectomy in the same hospital, in order to emphasize my then existing feeling of confidence and the unexpectedness of the severe complications. The significant data on the first two cases follows. <h3>Report of Cases</h3> Case1.—A 3-year-old boy was operated March 15, 1956, using a size 2½ McIvor blade for exposure. Significant bleeding following the scissors dissection of the tonsils