Immediate tonsillectomy is the management strategy used in our hospital for peritonsillar abscess (PTA). To determine the effectiveness and safety of immediate tonsillectomy for PTA, we reviewed the cases of PTA treated in our clinic in comparison to cases of tonsillitis treated by elective tonsillectomy. During the past 20 years, a total of 238 patients were treated in our clinic for PTA. Immediate tonsillectomy was performed in 222 of these patients under general anesthesia. Elective tonsillectomy was performed in 423 patients. Blood loss was greater and hospital stay was shorter in patients who underwent immediate tonsillectomy than in those who underwent elective tonsillectomy. Tonsil remnants were found in five PTA patients, and postoperative bleeding occurred in four PTA patients. Airway obstruction, deep neck infection, MRSA enterocolitis, and pulmonary edema occurred in one PTA patient each. Although bacteremia occurred in 12 PTA patients, none of the 12 showed clinical symptoms of sepsis. Immediate tonsillectomy under general anesthesia was carried out safely in this patient series. We recommend immediate tonsillectomy under general anesthesia performed by a well-trained anesthesiologist for the treatment of PTA.
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