Complications of traditional tonsillectomy in patients treated at al-thawra teaching hospital, yemen

Abstract AR

Objective.: To describe the complications of traditional tonsillectomy done by non-medical personnel outside a health facility among patients attending Al-Thawra Teaching Hospital, Yemen.

Methods: There were 112 patients who attended the ENT clinic or were seen at the general emergency room.

These patients were examined clinically and investigated including CBC, bleeding time, clotting time, HbsAg, HCV, urine analysis, chest X-ray, ECG and nasal endoscopy, when appropriate.

Results : 59% of patients with traditional tonsillectomy complications were aged between 16-25 years old.

Fifty tight per cent were males and 42% were females.

Some 83.9% of patients were from rural areas and 90.2% were WOT; 58% came to the hospital 1 year or more after the procedure; 14.3% arrived in the first 24 hours.

The most :ommon complications were bilateral incomplete removal of the tonsils (86.6%), primary hemorrhage (11.6%) and ititis media (9.8%).

One patient (0.9%) expired.

The most common surgical interventions were bilateral •etonsillectomy (55.4%), unilateral retonsillectomy (8.9%), and septoplasty (7.1%).

Conclusion: The age range of highest incidence of traditional tonsillectomy complications was between 16-25 >ears old.

The common complications of traditional tonsillectomy were bilateral incomplete removal, primary lemorrhage, and otitis media.

Poverty, illiteracy and inaccessible health services were the main causes for raditional tonsillectomy.