This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Complications of tonsillectomy

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Haemorrhage:

  • primary - at the time of operation
  • reactionary - within the first 24 hours. In co-operative patients, may be managed by removal of clot and applied pressure, but usually require a return to theatre for exploration and ligation of bleeding points
  • secondary - within 7-10 days. Usually from infection causing fibrinolysis. Managed with antibiotics, usually penicillin, either intravenously or orally

Infection:

  • otitis media
  • infection in the tonsillar fossae - usually treated with antibiotics

Pulmonary - from inhalation of blood or tissue fragments. These are rare, for example:

  • pulmonary abscess
  • pneumonia

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.