Tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy and adenotonsillectomy: are they safe day case procedures?

A review of 3,488 tonsil and adenoid procedures performed between March 1987 and April 1990 is presented. A reactionary haemorrhage rate of 0.49 per cent was found. No deaths were recorded. All cases of reactionary haemorrhage occurred within the first eight hours post-operatively. Based on this study, out-patient tonsil and adenoid surgery should be followed by at least an eight hour postoperative observation period before discharge. If day case adenoid and tonsil surgery is adopted, close medical audit would be necessary to detect and then prevent any possible increase in morbidity or mortality.