Tonsillectomy Indications and Complications: 10 Years of Experience

Objective: In this study, tonsillectomy indications and post-tonsillectomy complications were discussed in the light of the literature. Material and Method: A retrospective file review of 775 patients who underwent tonsillectomy was performed between January 2014 and January 2024. Demographic data, preoperative indications, perioperative and postoperative complications of the patients were accessed from hospital records. Results: Of the 775 patients who underwent tonsillectomy, 459 (59.2%) were male and 316 (40.8%) were female. Of the 630 pediatric patients, 404 (64.1%) were operated on for obstruction, 209 (33.1%) for recurrent tonsillitis, 11 (1.7%) for suspected malignancy, and 6 (0.9%) for Periodic Fever-Aphthous-Stomatitis-Pharyngitis-Adenitis (PFAPA) Syndrome. Of the 145 adult patients, 67 (46.2%) were operated on for recurrent tonsillitis, 39 (26.9%) for obstruction, 32 (22.1%) for suspected malignancy, 4 (2.7%) for peritonsillar abscess, and 3 (2.1%) for chronic caseous tonsillitis. In the postoperative period, bleeding was detected in 18 (2.8%) of 630 pediatric patients and oral intake disorder was detected in 4 (0.6%). Postoperative bleeding complications were observed in 15 (10.3%) of 145 adult patients. Conclusion: In our study, obstruction was seen as the primary indication for surgical intervention in the pediatric patient group, while infectious causes were seen in the adult patient group. The most common complication was bleeding. Tonsillectomy is an operation in which good planning of surgical indications and good postoperative follow-up are important.