Bleeding risk of tonsil operation
25/03/2004
May I thank you for the way my accident claim has been handled, after my accident my confidence was very low indeed but the sympathetic handling of my case restored my confidence.
John, Sheffield
A common procedure for removing tonsils could cause bleeding and complications after surgery, warn experts.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence, in an interim report on tonsillectomies, said doctors should avoid a procedure called diathermy.
The procedure uses heat generated by an electrical current to remove the tonsils and close the blood vessels up.
The report recommends surgeons use the 'cold steel' method, which does not use heat.
Chief Medical Officers for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland asked NICE to review the types of tonsillectomies conducted by the NHS.
NICE found that diathermy was far more likely to cause bleeding and complications requiring further surgery in patients than in those who had undergone cold steel surgery. Two patients are known to have died after undergoing diathermy.
However the report stressed that tonsillectomies are usually safe procedures that go ahead without complications.
NICE Chief Executive, Andrew Dillon, said: "NICE has issued interim guidance as a sensible precaution until the full benefits and risks of these procedures have been assessed.
"We will follow up with a full review and issue definitive guidance as soon as it is complete."
Diathermy has been used increasingly because of fears of transmitting vCJD from reusable surgical instruments.
Solicitor Richard Follis, of Alexander Harris Solicitors, is representing the parents of two patients who died after undergoing tonsillectomies in England.
Disposable diathermy instruments were used in both tonsillectomies and both patients suffered serious haemorrhaging after their operation.
He said: "We welcome both the issuing of the guidance today and the involvement of NICE.
"Parents have shown incredible determination applying sustained pressure to the relevant officials for over two and a half years since their children's death.
"They are pleased that the guidelines recognise a serious level of concern surrounding the use of these instruments and is at last the start of the process of answering a whole series of questions that they have.
"We will certainly look forward to seeing the results of their full investigation when available."
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