Claes Hemlin

A 4-year consecutive study of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage.

Objective: To analyse consecutive material over a period of 4 years concerning the incidence and consequences of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhages (PTH). Design: Prospective study. Setting: University hospital. Participants: All non-oncological cases of tonsillectomy (TE) and adenotonsillectomy (TA) performed at the ENT department at the Karolinska University Hospital between March 2000 and April 2004. Main Outcome Measures: Rate, timing and classification of PTH. Results: During the study period, 2,813 cases (mean age 13 ± 12.8 years; SD) of TE and TA were included. The majority (62%) were children aged below 12 years, and 69% were performed as day surgery. In total, 212 (7.5%) patients were readmitted due to PTH, of which 98 (3.4%) presented with ongoing haemorrhage. The rates of primary and secondary bleeding were 1.9 and 5.5%, respectively. The PTH occurred in 0–19 days post-operatively, in a typical twin peak mode around the day of surgery and then days 4–7. No case of serious PTH was noted. Multiple bleedings (2–3 times) occurred in 19 patients. Only a minority (31%) of the single PTH patients required active treatment, surgery in the theatre (35 patients) or diathermy under local anaesthesia in the emergency room (24 patients). However, almost all received systemic haemostatic treatment. Three patients required blood transfusion due to repeated PTH. Of the 114 patients that did not present with an active PTH, only 1 returned to the operating theatre due to later bleeding. Almost half (43%) of the patients with multiple episodes of PTH had also experienced primary bleedings. Conclusions: A primary PTH seems to indicate a risk of further episodes of bleedings, and should necessitate extra post-operative observation. Patients with a history of a single self-limiting PTH showed low risk of developing a haemorrhage requiring return to the theatre.

Reduced risk of primary postoperative hemorrhage after tonsil surgery in Sweden: Results from the national tonsil surgery register in Sweden covering more than 10 years and 54,696 operations

To analyze the incidence of primary bleeding following tonsil surgery and to evaluate risk factors.

Tonsil surgery efficiently relieves symptoms: analysis of 54 696 patients in the National Tonsil Surgery Register in Sweden

Abstract Conclusion: Patients operated with tonsillar surgery report a high degree of symptom relief 6 months after surgery. Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze symptom relief 6 months after tonsil surgery in relation to age, indication, surgical procedure, primary bleeding and unplanned postoperative visits. The National Tonsil Surgery Register in Sweden offers data from 54 696 patients registered during 1997–2008. Methods: This was a prospective assessment by questionnaire. Data were collected using three questionnaires, two completed by professionals and one 6 months postoperatively by the parents/patients. Results: Among 54 696 patients, the most common surgical indications were obstruction (49.7%), followed by recurrent tonsillitis (35.2%). Symptom relief 6 months after surgery was high in all indication groups (>92%), and highest for patients operated on the indication peritonsillitis (>98%). The indications obstruction, recurrent tonsillitis or chronic tonsillitis reported a high degree (>96%) of symptom relief. Of the patients who underwent tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy, 97.5% were symptom-free compared to 96% of patients who had tonsillectomy alone and 96.1% who underwent tonsillotomy (p < 0.0001). In all, 13.9% of patients required an unplanned visit to the clinic postoperatively. Only 148 of 54 696 patients reported worsening of symptoms after surgery.

Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage rates are related to technique for dissection and for haemostasis. An analysis of 15734 patients in the National Tonsil Surgery Register in Sweden

To analyse post‐tonsillectomy haemorrhage (PTH) rates related to technique for dissection and haemostasis.

T‐cell subsets in adenoids and peripheral blood related to age, otitis media with effusion and allergy

Adenoids and peripheral blood samples from 29 children (20–120 months of age) undergoing adenoidectomy for long‐standing otitis media with effusion (OME) (n=16) or obstructive adenoid hyperplasia (n=13) were investigated by flow cytometry for their T‐lymphocyte profile. Eleven of the enrolled children were allergic to inhalant and/or food allergens. For the whole group, the percentage of helper T cells belonging to the memory phenotype (CD4+/CD45RO+ cells) was significantly higher in adenoids than in blood (p<0.0001), while the same cell category increased with age in peripheral blood (p<0.01). A highly significant negative regression (p<0.001) was found between age and the percentage ratio of CD4+ cells that were CD45RO+ in adenoids and blood. Allergic children had a higher CD4+/CD8+ ratio for cells expressing CD45RO+ (p<0.05) in adenoids. The results of this study indicate that adenoids participate in the development of an immunological memory. Our findings support a relationship between allergy and memory cells in adenoids.

Flow Cytometric Quantification of Lymphocyte Subpopulations and Immunoglobulin-containing Cells in Adenoid Tissue in Relation to Secretory Otitis Media and Age

This study was designed to identify differences in the immunological reactions in adenoid tissue between children suffering from chronic secretory otitis media (SOM) and control children without ear disease. Cell populations were identified using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytofluorometry to facilitate quantitative comparisons. A modification of the FOG method was developed to quantify lymphocytes with intracellular IgG and IgA. Immunological screening was done in the first part of the study. No significant differences were found between the groups regarding cells positive for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20 or CD25. A significantly higher number of PCA-1 positive cells (presumably plasma cells) were found in the SOM group. The second part of the study concentrated specifically on cells containing IgG or IgA. No statistically significant differences in number of positive cells were found between the groups. When we related the percentage of positive cells to age, a statistically significant decrease with age for IgA-positive cells was found in the SOM group but not in the control group. This result supports the hypothesis that SOM is associated with an immunological reaction that influences immunoglobulin production in adenoid tissue.

IgE-positive plasma cells are present in adenoids of atopic children.

Conclusions. We demonstrated the presence of IgE+ plasma cells in the adenoids of atopic children. Our data suggest that adenoids are capable of local production of IgE and support the role of adenoids as an inductive site for allergic reactions. Objective. We have previously demonstrated increased numbers of IgE+ cells in the adenoids of atopic children and also found support for an IL-4-induced class switch to IgE production in adenoids. In search of further evidence of adenoids being involved in IgE-mediated sensitization, we investigated the distribution of plasma cells and macrophages positive for IgE in adenoids. Material and methods. Adenoid tissue from atopic and non-atopic children was examined using immunohistochemical markers for IgE, plasma cells (CD138) and macrophages (CD68). The distribution of positive cells was determined in the extrafollicular area and in the follicles of adenoids. Co-localization of IgE and CD138+ plasma cells and CD68+ macrophages was examined using immunohistochemical double-staining methods. Results. Non-atopic adenoids contained no or very few IgE+ cells. In contrast, IgE+ cells were found in high numbers in atopic adenoids, mainly in the extrafollicular area. Higher numbers of IgE+ plasma cells and IgE+ macrophages were also found in the adenoids of atopic children.

Ligasure versus diathermy scissors tonsillectomy: A controlled randomized study

Abstract Conclusions: Ligasure tonsillectomies took longer than bipolar diathermy scissors tonsillectomies. Peroperative haemostasis was comparable in the two groups. Postoperative haemorrhage was higher than expected, which needs to be further investigated. A new handpiece, specifically designed for tonsillectomy, could probably improve surgical performance regarding operative time. Objective: To compare tonsillectomy using Ligasure with bipolar diathermy scissors with regard to operative time, blood loss and complications. Methods: This was a prospective study; 150 patients (> 15 years of age) undergoing tonsillectomy were randomized to tonsillectomy using either Ligasure or bipolar diathermy scissors. Operative time, peroperative blood loss, postoperative pain and complications were recorded and evaluated. Results: A total of 149 cases were included, 75 randomized to Ligasure tonsillectomy and 74 to bipolar diathermy scissors tonsillectomy. Peroperative blood loss was similar in both groups. On average the operative time was 8 min longer in the Ligasure group. Postoperative pain was similar in the two groups. Twenty patients (13%) experienced postoperative haemorrhage, which is higher than our previous material. Slightly fewer patients experienced postoperative haemorrhage in the Ligasure group compared with the diathermy scissors group but the difference was not significant. Two of the 20 patients that experienced postoperative haemorrhage required a return to theatre to stop the bleeding, fewer than previously observed. No other complications were seen.

Increased levels of IL-2 and IL-4 in stimulated adenoidal lymphocytes of atopic children

Background: The adenoid is involved in the defence against airway pathogens and its surface is also exposed to airborne allergens. The knowledge about reactions taking place in the lymphatic tissue of this organ is, however, limited. To elucidate the influence of atopy we investigated the cellular and cytokine profile of in vitro-stimulated adenoid lymphocytes. Methods: Adenoid tissue cells from 13 atopic and 8 non-atopic children were cultured and stimulated with ionomycin and 4β-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Supernatants were collected after 4 and 20 h of stimulation and interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were analysed by ELISA. Flow cytometry was used to quantify the leukocyte markers CD3, CD19, CD25 and HLA-DR. Results: Increased levels of IL-2 and IL-4 but not IFN-γ were detected in the supernatants of adenoid cell cultures from atopic children after 20 h of stimulation (p < 0.05) and a significant correlation with a positive regression between IL-2 and IL-4 was found. Atopy was also associated with a greater increase in the percentage of CD19-positive B cells after stimulation (p < 0.05). Conclusions: A difference in the reactivity of adenoidal lymphoid cells in children was observed between atopic and non-atopic subjects. Atopy was associated with an increased production of IL-2 and IL-4 as well as a more pronounced increase of B cells.

Tonsil surgery in Sweden 2013–2015. Indications, surgical methods and patient-reported outcomes from the National Tonsil Surgery Register

Abstract Aim: To describes how tonsil surgery was performed in Sweden from 2013 to 2015 with data from the National Tonsil Surgery Registry in Sweden (NTSRS). Method: The registry collects data from both professionals and patients through questionnaires. A total of 33,870 tonsil surgeries were analysed, comprising approximately 80% of all tonsil surgeries in Sweden from 2013 to 2015. Results: The two most common procedures were tonsillectomy (41%) and tonsillotomy with adenoidectomy (38%). Tonsillectomy was most commonly performed to treat frequent tonsillitis, while the main indication for tonsil surgery with combined adenoidectomy and for tonsillotomy alone was upper airway obstruction. The most commonly used techniques were cold steel (70%) for tonsillectomy/adenotonsillectomy and radiofrequency (79%) for tonsillotomy/adenotonsillotomy. Ninety-five percent of patients reported symptom relief after 180 d. Day surgery was utilised in 70% of the surgeries. The rate of readmission due to post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage was 5.1%. Male patients more often underwent tonsil surgery at preschool ages due to upper airway obstruction; in comparison, female patients to a larger extent underwent surgery in their early teens because of previous infections. Conclusions: The NTSRS provides an opportunity to survey tonsil surgery in Sweden and to launch and follow up improvement programmes as desired.