Abstract
The incidence of delayed, or secondary, hemorrhage following tonsillectomy is not great, but the complication occurs with sufficient frequency to warrant attention. This postoperative event, while alarming to the patient, is regarded as more annoying than serious by the surgeon. Occasionally the bleeding is of a severity necessitating a transfusion. Indeed, because of the rapid replacement of the blood lost and the apparent prompt cessation of tonsillar bleeding in the patient treated by transfusion, this procedure has been advised in all cases other than that of transient hemorrhage. Primary hemorrhage occurs within twenty-four hours after tonsillectomy and is due to incomplete hemostasis during operation, incomplete operation, relaxation of the walls of blood vessels or unavoidable slipping of a ligature during violent coughing or vomiting. Postoperative bleeding secondary to blood dyscrasias, acute inflammation at the time of operation, hypertension, arteriosclerosis or other causes brought out by the preoperative history and examination,
Published Version
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