The rate of postoperative death in children undergoing tonsillectomy is uncertain. Mortality rates are not separately available for children at increased risk of complications, including young children and those with sleep-disordered breathing or complex chronic conditions. The objective of this study involving HIP Investigator Dr. Ryan Coller was to estimate postoperative mortality following tonsillectomy in US children, both overall and in relation to recognized risk factors for complications.
A retrospective cohort study based on longitudinal analysis of linked records in state ambulatory surgery, inpatient, and emergency department discharge data sets distributed by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project for 5 states covering 2005 to 2017 was conducted. They found that among children undergoing tonsillectomy, the rate of postoperative death was 7 per 100,000 operations overall and 117 per 100,000 operations among children with complex chronic conditions.
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