What are the risks of tonsillectomy?
Most surgical procedures share the general risks of anesthesia, bleeding and infection. The anesthetic risk is, in general, proportional to the health of the child; serious problems are very rare. Bleeding occurs in approximately 1-2% of children after a tonsillectomy. This most often occurs 5-8 days after surgery, when the scab or white patch that has formed in the back of the throat falls off. Things to look for include vomiting, coughing or spitting up blood. If this occurs, you should contact our office immediately and prepare to come to the hospital to be seen. Ensuring that the child is well hydrated and eating/chewing reduce the risk of bleeding. No vacations away from San Diego should be planned for 2 weeks after the surgery because of this risk. Serious post operative infections are very rare.
