Current complication rates for elective adenotomy in children (n = 783)

Introduction Complications in adenotoidectomy (AT) are rare, but can lead to life-threatening events like secondary bleeding in children. In order to determine risk factors, a retrospective evaluation of a large patient collective from a German university clinic was carried out.

Methods 783 children (2-7 years) were included, who had AT (± paracentesis / ventilation tube) in 2011-2017. Data on screening for clotting disorders (by a standardized questionaire) and intra- and postoperative complications (increased intraoperative bleeding, secondary bleeding, wound infection, Grisel's syndrome) were evaluated. The descriptive evaluation was carried out with "IBM SPSS Statistics Version 24".

Results In 33 children (4.2 % ) a wound infection required antibiotic treatment. Grisel's syndrome was described in 9 (1.1 % ) patients. 5 children (0.6 % ) suffered from postoperative bleeding; in 2 cases surgical coagulation was necessary on the day of the operation (0.3 % ). Von Willebrand syndrome type 1 (vWS) was subsequently diagnosed in one of these children. An intraop. increased bleeding tendency was documented in 5 (0.6 % ) children. In 2 cases expanded preoperative diagnostics were initiated by a conspicuous preoperative screening and a thrombocytopathy and a vWS were found.

Conclusion After AT, checks should be carried out in order to promptly detect wound infection. Subsequent bleeding is far less common (0.6 % ), but despite an normal preoperative screening, it cannot be safely excluded or prevented. Bleeding that requires intervention occurs early after the intervention ( < 24h) and is not usually associated with coagulation disorders. A standardized screening for clotting disorders is essential, because in individual cases clotting disorders can be detected preoperatively.

Poster-PDF A-1689.pdf

Conflict of interest

Der Erstautor gibt keinen Interessenskonflikt an.

Publication History

Article published online:
13 May 2021