Download A4Medicine Mobile App
Empower Your RCGP AKT Journey: Master the MCQs with Us! 🚀
The following table provides a comprehensive overview of potential complications that can arise following tonsillectomy, a surgical procedure aimed at removing the tonsils, which are two lymphoid tissues located at the back of the throat. Tonsillectomy is often performed to alleviate chronic or severe tonsillitis, obstructive sleep apnoea, or other related conditions. While the procedure can be highly effective in improving a patient's health and quality of life, it is important for healthcare professionals and patients to be aware of the potential post-operative complications.
| Complication | Description | Prevalence (Approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| Bleeding | ♦ Bleeding on the day of surgery. | Risk less than 1 in 100 |
| ♦ Bleeding in the next two weeks. | Risk less than 6 in 100 | |
| ♦ May need another operation to stop bleeding. | Risk less than 2 in 100 | |
| Infection | • Infection at the surgical site or nearby areas. | Common |
| Swelling (Oedema) | • Swelling of the tongue, potentially affecting swallowing and breathing. | Common |
| Change in Taste | ♦ Temporary change in taste perception, often in the first two weeks post-surgery. | Risk 1 in 3 |
| ♦ Lasting change for 6 months (rare). | Risk 1 in 12 | |
| ♦ Lasting change for > 2 years (very rare). | Risk less than 1 in 100 | |
| A... |
Try our Free Plan to get the full article.
