Day case paediatric tonsillectomy: a review of three years experience in adedicated day case unit

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in ch ildren. Day case tonsillectomy is common in many parts of the USA but remai ns controversial in the UK. Day case tonsillectomy in children has been per formed in a dedicated paediatric day care unit at the Mayday Hospital since 1994. The results for the years 1995-1997 were reviewed. In these years 92 8 true day case tonsillectomies were performed. Reactionary haemorrhage occ urred in 0.97% (nine children) but only three children required a return to theatre. All bleeding occurred within the standard observation period. The re were no deaths. The overall effective day case rate was 95.7%, only 31 c hildren needing unplanned admission, mainly for postoperative vomiting. The results suggest that day case tonsillectomy can be safely and successfully performed, with a dedicated paediatric day case unit and a favourable popu lation geography.