Patient injuries from tonsil and adenoid surgery in Finland

Abstract

Objectives: The aims of this national register-based study were to examine patient injury claims related to tonsil and adenoid surgery injuries and to compare the frequency of claims between tonsillectomies and tonsillotomies in Finland. Methods:We analyzed the complaints related to tonsil and adenoid surgery received by the Finnish Patient Insurance Center (PIC) between the years 2000 and 2019.One hundred seventy-two cases were included in the analysis. The annual surgery rates between the years 2000 and 2018 were acquired from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.Results: During the years 2000 to 2018, a total of 292,679 patients had tonsil and/or adenoid surgery nationwide. For tonsil or adenoid surgeries, the national average was 5.3 cases and 1.8 cases per 10,000, respectively, resulting in patient injury claims and compensations. A total of 33.1% of the claims regarding tonsil or adenoid surgery processed by the PIC were compensated. Most of the claims were made after a tonsillectomy (87.8%), and few were made after a tonsillotomy (1.7%). Seven deaths were recorded. Conclusion:Patient injuries from tonsil and adenoid surgeries were mostly related to traditional extracapsular tonsillectomies. Most surgeries, along with most complications, involved specialists, who performed routine operations in high-volume centers.Surgeries for acute or recurrent infections resulted in more claims. Severe complications arising from tonsil and adenoid surgeries were rare.

Intracapsular tonsillectomy: setting a new standard

“…Two studies used national registries to evaluate the difference in complication rates related to tonsillectomy techniques. A registry of tonsillectomies performed in Finland between 2000 and 2018 showed 172 claims based on patient injuries as a result of the surgery [14 ▪ ]. Only 1.7% of claims were made after ICT as opposed to ECT, and the seven reported deaths were after ECT, exclusively [14 ▪ ].…”

“…A registry of tonsillectomies performed in Finland between 2000 and 2018 showed 172 claims based on patient injuries as a result of the surgery [14 ▪ ]. Only 1.7% of claims were made after ICT as opposed to ECT, and the seven reported deaths were after ECT, exclusively [14 ▪ ]. In addition, a database review of English hospitals exclusively employing coblation ICT showed a 1.2% readmission rate and 0.2% reoperation rate for posttonsillectomy hemorrhage [15 ▪ ].…”