The relationship between the weather variables and secondary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage

Abstract

Objectives:The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of weather conditions on post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage.Methods:One-year period retrospective chart review. The charts of all patients who underwent bilateral tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy were reviewed. All patients with secondary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage were included. The local meteorological data for the duration of the study including monthly minimum, maximum temperatures and relative humidity were obtained from the meteorological watch office in Diyarbak›r. The relationship between secondary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage and weather variables was studied. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows version 13 (Chicago, IL, USA). One sample t-test and linear regression analysis were performed.Results:1210 consecutive patients’ charts were reviewed. Overall haemorrhage rate was 5.52%. There was no statistical significance in secondary haemorrhage rates between different months of the year (p=0.99). Linear regression test revealed no statistical association between mean maximum temperature, mean minimum temperature, mean relative humidity and secondary haemorrhage rates (p=0.47, p=0.06, p=0.71, respectively).Conclusion:Literary data regarding the effect of weather on post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage is limited and shows inconsistency. This study shows that there is no correlation between post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage and weather variables, even with a fluctuating range of -3.3 to 40.9 °C in temperature.

Keywords

• tonsillectomy
• haemorrhage
• weather
• temperature
• humidity.