Key points:
- Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgeries worldwide, mostly
indicated for sleep-disordered breathing and recurrent throat
infections
- Post-tonsillectomy bleeding is the most significant complication,
reported in 0.2-20% cases and may lead to suffocation, airway
obstruction and death
- Although several risk factors for post-tonsillectomy bleeding are
described in adults, the role of post-operative pain score was not
investigated
- Higher post-operative pain score (measured in visual analogue scale)
on post-operative days 1 and 2 were associated with risk of bleeding
in adults
- Further prospective studies should explore the effect of strict pain
control regimens on post-tonsillectomy bleeding in adults