Prise en charge de l'amygdale qui saigne

Tonsillectomy is commonly performed and is sometimes endowed with complications. Post-tonsillectomy bleeding (PTB) is one of those. It can either be primary, occurring during the first day after surgery, most frequently within the first 6 hours following the operation, or secondary, usually between day 5 and day 15. The latter are more frequent than primary haemorrhage. The most important risk factors of PTB are age, gender and surgical techniques. The use of anti-inflammatory agents is not associated with a higher risk of PTB. When a PTB is observed, surgical haemostasis is indicated in half of the cases. The anaesthetic management must take into account potential anaemia with or without hypovolaemia and impose a rapid sequence induction technique. This complication is potentially life-threatening. An optimisation of new surgical techniques and a great collaboration between anaesthesiologist and surgeon can decrease morbidity and mortality.