Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T02:04:08.048Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Are haematological tests warranted prior to tonsillectomy?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

J. R. Livesey
J. R. Livesey*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Royal Surrey County HospitalGuildford, Surrey GU2 5XX.
*
J. R. Livesey, ENT Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The use of phlebotomy for a full blood count (FBC) and group and serum storage (G&S) prior to tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy was assessed by means of a postal questionnaire sent to consultant otolaryngologists within the South West Thames region. This was compared with ‘countrywide’ practice assessed by means of questions to attenders at an otolaryngology course.

A postal response rate of 86 per cent was obtained with 67 per cent within the region requesting a FBC prior to tonsillectomy and 50 per cent to adenoidectomy alone. This was much greater than for the ‘countrywide’ group with 24 per cent and 6 per cent respectively. Requests for pre-operative G&S were 17 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.

This large difference in practice suggests that in the clinically healthy patient with no specific indications, pre-operative haematological investigations may be non-contributary, which has important financial implications. The maintenance of post-operative intravenous access is considered to be much safer, less traumatic and cheaper.

Keywords

TonsillectomyHaematological tests
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 107 , Issue 3 , March 1993 , pp. 205 - 207
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Chowdhury, K., Tewfile, T. L., Schloss, M. D. (1988) Post-tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy haemorrhage. Journal of Otolaryngology 17: 46–49.Google Scholar
Nigram, A., Ahmed, K., Drake-Lee, A. B. (1990) The value of pre-operative estimation of haemoglobin in children undergoing tonsillectomy. Clinical Otolaryngology, 15: 549–551.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Office of Population Census and Surveys (1985) Cancer Statistics: Registrations. Her Majesty's Stationery Office: London, p 26.Google Scholar