Predictors for hemorrhage following pediatric adenotonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVE

To determine risk factors and trends for posttonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) following adenotonsillectomy (T&A) at a single children's tertiary referral hospital.

METHODS

Charts from all patients 2-12 years old undergoing T&A alone at a single children's hospital from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2015 were reviewed. Data was collected on patient demographics, indication for procedure, time of year, academic affiliation of surgeon, surgical technique and method, post-operative pain medication prescribed,and readmission for PTH. Univariate chi-square analyses and logistic regression along with multivariable stepwise logistic regression were used to identify predictors of PTH. SPSS version 24 was used for statistical analyses with p < .05 indicating statistical significance.

RESULTS

There were 2565 children undergoing T&A during the study period. One hundred seventy-three (6.7%) patients were readmitted, of which 53 (30.6%) were due to PTH. Univariate analyses identified children at the highest age quartile of the study, 7.72-12.97 years old (odds ratio [OR] = 5.775, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.248-14.837, p < .001) and children with a BMI z-score of 2 or greater (OR = 3.391, 95% CI = 1.497-7.680, p = .003) were at increased risk for PTH. Multivariable analyses also identified both the highest age quartile and BMI z-score of 2 or greater to be a risk factor for PTH.

CONCLUSION

In children undergoing T&A, age greater than 7.72 years old and BMI z-score of 2 or greater are significant risk factors for PTH. Replication of these findings in a more highly powered trial is needed.