Pan-Scotland tonsillectomy outcomes: A national cross-sectional study.

Current 30-day re-admission and return to theatre rates are significantly higher than the majority of reported series to date. The rising rate of tonsillectomy haemorrhage between cohorts is likely to be multifactorial, possibly reflecting an underestimation of previous rates and the changing profile of the tonsillectomy patient. A detailed audit of current practice is needed to investigate these tonsillectomy outcomes, which are similar across all Health Boards in Scotland. Of most significance are the implications for accurate patient consent and non-elective ENT service provision.