Is there a justification for routine pre-operative deposit of blood for tonsillectomy/adenotonsillectomy?

Tonsillectomy is rarely performed for life threatening reasons, but it has life-threatening complications. The most dreaded complication is haemorrhage. It is usually primary or reactionary in type, occurring any time up to 24 hours after operation. Studies are abound that show bleeding as the most common complication of adenotonsillectomy and the various methods to reduce the blood loss (Prasad and Prasad 2011, Holden and Maher 1965, Spoerell et al 1960, Callanan et al 1995 ).But none in literature indicated pre-operative blood deposit. Most of the deaths associated with tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy are directly or indirectly associated with this complication. This calls for careful selection and preparation of patients prior to the surgery. In our facility, the anaesthetists demand for routine deposit of at least two units of blood by every patient prior to surgery and this must be palpable before the patient is allowed into the theatre.