When should I be concerned about bleeding after tonsillectomy?

Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage is considered a surgical emergency. Hemorrhage after tonsillectomy can be classified as primary or secondary. If bleeding occurs within the first 24 hours after surgery, it is referred to as a primary hemorrhage. Secondary hemorrhage risk occurs after 24 hours.

How long after tonsillectomy can you hemorrhage?

Of the 134 bleeding evaluations, 9 (6.7%) were primary or within 24 hours of surgery and 125 (93.3%) were secondary or longer than 24 hours after tonsillectomy. The most common time for posttonsillectomy hemorrhage evaluation was postoperative day 6 (Figure 1).

Is it normal to bleed 6 days after tonsillectomy?

Between 5 and 10 days after a tonsillectomy, your scabs will begin to fall off. This is an entirely normal process and may cause a small amount of bleeding. Bleeding from scabs is a type of secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage because it occurs more than 24 hours after the surgery.

Can you hemorrhage twice after tonsillectomy?

Recurrent, severe post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage could be related to undiagnosed hematological disorders. In such patients, advanced hematological investigations can help to diagnose such a pathology and ensure prompt treatment.

How much blood is too much after tonsillectomy?

If you see blood clots, more than a few streaks of bright red blood in their vomit or saliva, or your child is vomiting blood, call 911 or go to the ER immediately. Other reasons to visit the ER for children include: inability to keep liquids down for several hours.

What days are the worst after tonsillectomy?

Throat pain builds up for the first few days and is usually at its the worst around the fifth day after surgery. Pain and discomfort will usually then ease until the seventh or ninth day after surgery when some of the scab covering the tonsillectomy site falls off.

Can you bleed to death from tonsillectomy?

Tonsillectomy is said to be “the ultimate test of hemostasis.” Hemorrhage can lead to shock, airway obstruction, and death (those sound bad).

How do you stop bleeding after tonsillectomy?

Post Tonsillectomy bleed – active bleed

1. Manage patient in Resus.
2. Sit the patient up and encourage them to spit blood into a bowl.
3. Suction should be available if needed.
4. The patient should be kept ‘Nil by mouth’
5. Central monitoring of heart rate, respiratory rate, pulse oximetry & blood pressure.
6. Notify ENT Registrar.