AN OPTIMAL CHOICE - HOME INTRAVENOUS HYDRATION AFTER TONSILLECTOMY

Most tonsillectomies are performed as outpatient procedures in an ambu latory care facility, The postoperative period can be protracted which can cause dehydration and readmission to the hospital. Timely interve ntion with home intravenous (IV) hydration can help prevent this compl ication. A prospective clinical trial was designed to evaluate the ben efit of home IV therapy after tonsillectomy. One hundred consecutive p atients underwent tonsillectomy. Fifty returned home without home IV h ydration and another 50 returned home with home IV hydration, Clinical data were collected by the homecare nurse during the postoperative pe riod. Comparison between these two groups showed that the patients wit h home IV hydration had less morbidity. Daily assessment of the patien t by telephone is the best screening method to determine the need for IV hydration for the posttonsillectomy patient.