Early post-operative morbidity following tonsillectomy in children: implications for day surgery

Adenotonsillectomy and tonsillectomy are amongst the most commonly performe d surgical procedures. In our prospective study we looked at early post-ope rative morbidity (haemorrhage, vomiting and pyrexia) in 521 consecutive chi ldren following tonsillectomy, adenotonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. While the incidence of reactionary haemorrhage is low,:pyrexia and vomiting are c ommon. The implications of this high early post-operative morbidity for day surgery are discussed.