Ambulatory tonsillectomy. Is postoperative hemorrhage a risk factor

: Out-patient surgery is being used increasingly to improve health care efficiency. In Norway, tonsillectomy is performed on an in-patient basis because of concern for the safety regarding primary haemorrhage. This study aims at investigating the safety of out-patient tonsillectomy by defining the incidence and timing of primary haemorrhage, thereby establishing a safe time period span for a possible discharge on the same day. Retrospectively recorded data on 1,632 tonsillectomies were reviewed. Serious primary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage arose in 24 patients (1.5%). In view of the fact that one fifth of these tonsillectomy patients experience a serious primary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage more than eight hours after the operation, tonsillectomy cannot be recommended as a safe routine out-patient procedure.