Reoperation following Adult Tonsillectomy

Abstract

Objective Tonsillectomy remains a common procedure in adults; however, there are few population-level data evaluating risk factors for reoperation. Study Design Retrospective review of national database. Setting American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP), 2005-2013. Subjects and Methods The ACS-NSQIP was queried for patients undergoing tonsillectomy ± adenoidectomy as their primary procedure ( CPT 42821 or 42826). Demographic information and indications were reviewed along with complications and reoperation rates. Results In total, 12,542 cases met inclusion criteria. Patients were predominantly female (66.4%) and white (70.8%), with mean age of 30 ± 12 years (range: 16-90+). Thirty-day mortality was 0.03%, and 4.8% of patients experienced at least 1 complication, including reoperation (3.6%). Risk of complications was associated with male sex ( P < .0001; odds ratio [OR], 1.7), diabetes ( P = .0002; OR, 2.1), and presence of a bleeding disorder ( P = .002; OR, 3.2). Risk factors for reoperation were similar, in addition to older age ( P = .002; OR, 0.986). Complications other than reoperation were correlated with older age ( P = .001; OR, 1.02) and diabetes ( P = .001; OR, 2.59). Procedures were done mostly for infectious/inflammatory (70.4%) versus hypertrophic (16.4%) indications. Indication had no significant effect on the rate of reoperation. Most reoperations occurred after postoperative day 1 (86%; mean, 6.4 ± 4.2 days). Conclusion This review of a large validated surgical database provides an overview of the rates of, and risk factors for, complications and reoperations following tonsillectomy in the adult population.