Don't overlook the complications of tonsillectomy.

A lthough the number of patients undergoing tonsillectomy has gradually declined since the 1970s, it remains one of the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide. The procedure, of course, is fairly routine—but not without risk. Mortality rates for the operation range from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 35,000, with morbidity rates ranging from 1.5% to 14%; mortality and morbidity after tonsillectomy are usually the result of postoperative bleeding. In addition to bleeding, other common complications include pain, nausea, and vomiting. The patient’s surgeon plays a central role in minimizing risk. But as a primary care physician, you, too, play an important role in ensuring that your patient’s tonsillectomy is uneventful. This review will help toward that end.