Some people experience bleeding after atonsillectomy.
Small amounts of dark red blood in saliva or vomit is usually not a concern.
Bright red bleeding, however, often requires immediate medical attention.
Illustration by Joshua Seong. © Verywell, 2018.
Major arteries are very close to thetonsils, so blood loss can be substantial.
It’s important to be aware of these signs of bleeding after tonsillectomy and know when treatment is needed.
You may also swallow blood during a tonsillectomy and then vomit old blood the day of surgery.
Old blood is dark brown in color and is sometimes described as looking like coffee grounds.
Severe vomiting containing significant amounts of blood, however, is a sign of a more serious problem.
When Bleeding Might Occur After Tonsil Removal
Generally speaking, this procedure is a very safe one.
Bleeding can also occur at any point in therecovery process, which takes around two weeks.
You may hear your healthcare provider refer to primary hemorrhage or secondary hemorrhage.
You might ask a friend or loved one to help with this.
Treating Bleeding After Tonsillectomy
Minor bleeding after tonsillectomy does not usually require treatment.
Your healthcare provider may recommend gargling cold water to help control the bleeding.
Keep your head elevated until the bleeding subsides.
Severe bleeding after tonsillectomy can be stopped by cauterizing the tonsil beds.
During this procedure, heat is applied to the area to seal the blood vessels and stop the bleeding.
In some cases, you may be kept in the hospital overnight.
Other Potential Complications
Bleeding is the most common and severe complication to a tonsillectomy.
There are, however, other complications that you should look out for.
Many people have theirtonsilsremoved every day in the United States and most do just fine.
Sometimes, though, complications like bleeding can occur.
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Childrens Minnesota.Patient & family education materials, tonsillectomy.
Richardson M, Friedman N. In:Clinician’s guide to pediatric sleep disorders.
Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 2016.
Pope, J. MyHealthAlberta.Problems after tonsillectomy in children: care instructions.
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