Evaluation of Secondary Post-Tonsillectomy Bleeding among Children in Saudi Arabia: Risk Factor Analysis

Background: Tonsillectomy is one of the most widely recognized surgeries for tonsillitis. It is the default surgery option for obstructive sleep apnea, recurrent tonsillitis, and recurrent peritonsillar abscess. However, there are limited risk factor analyses in Saudi Arabia related to tonsillectomy. The goal of study is to evaluate and analyze the risk factors for secondary post-tonsillectomy bleeding in Saudi Arabia. Method: This retrospective review study was directed at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Univariate and multivariate investigations were performed to decide the risk factors. Results: A total of 713 children were included. Post-tonsillectomy bleeding occurred in only 5.3% of tonsillectomies. There was no seasonal variation impact on post-tonsillectomy bleeding rate (P =.8). The multivariate analysis showed a significant association between post-tonsillectomy bleeding and both age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.156; 95% CI: 1.007-1.326; P =.039) and sleep disorder breathing/obstructive sleep apnea (OR = 3.581; 95% CI: 1.454-8.820; P =.006). Conclusion: This study revealed that age, sleep disorder/obstructive sleep apnea, and longer hospital stay after tonsillectomy are significant risk factors for post-tonsillectomy bleeding. This study provides an important baseline for further local studies in the future.