DOI: 10.21673/anadoluklin.2005697 ISSN: 2149-5254

Evaluation of the relationship between post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage and meteorological conditions

Ahmet Adnan Cırık, Sıddıka Tuğçe Altınok, Osman Altınok
Aim: To find out the association between post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage and meteorological conditions.Methods: This retrospective study included 2061 patients who underwent tonsillectomy at our institution between 2014 and 2024. We analyzed demographic, clinical, laboratory, and daily meteorological data, specifically temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, and sea-level air pressure, to assess any possible associations.Results: Overall hemorrhage occurred in 7.7 per cent, comprising primary and secondary hemorrhage rates of 1.9 and 5.7 per cent, respectively. Bleeding occurred between postoperative days 1 and 14 (mean 5.5 days). Importantly, patients aged ≥ 14 years had significantly higher hemorrhage rates (p = 0.001). Recurrent tonsillitis and the use of bipolar diathermy were associated with bleeding. Among the meteorological variables evaluated, only higher daily atmospheric pressure was associated with primary haemorrhage.Conclusion: Patient- and surgery-related factors appear to be more important predictors of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage than environmental conditions.