Background: The aim of our prospective analysis was to show the incidence of bleeding disorders among a tonsillectomy patient population and in case of bleeding disorders.
Patients and methods: This study comprised 92 consecutive patients who underwent tonsillectomies from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007 at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Mainz. In addition to gender, age, date of bleeding, Quick, aPTT and platelet count, the following blood values were determined: vWF:AG, vWF:RCo, vWF:RCo/vWF:AG, factor XIII, factor VIII:C, PFA 100™ ADP and PFA 100™ epinephrine (special coagulation analysis).
Results: Twelve of 92 patients (13%) showed evidence of coagulopathy. Four of these 12 patients had a postoperative hemorrhage. In eight patients a factor XIII deficiency was diagnosed, with two of them suffering a hemorrhage. In four patients, von Willebrand disease was diagnosed; two of them bled. No correlation between the presence of a coagulopathy and the bleeding rate could be determined.
Conclusion: Routine preoperative performance of special coagulation analysis in all patients does not significantly contribute to the detection of increased postoperative hemorrhage risk.