Does hydrogen peroxide mouthwash improve the outcome of secondary post-tonsillectomy bleed? A 10-year review

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005 Aug;133(2):202-5. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2005.04.002.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) mouthwash influences the outcome of secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage in children.

Study design: Ten-year retrospective study of all children with secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage.

Setting: Tertiary otolaryngology center.

Results: Of the 156 patients, 59 received H(2)O(2) and 97 did not. All patients received broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics. The average rehospitalization duration due to hemorrhage was 1.7 days (H(2)O(2) group) and 1.6 days (control group). In the H(2)O(2) group, 8.5% required surgery, compared with 10.3% in the control group. Further hemorrhage episodes requiring readmission occurred in 3.4% of the H(2)O(2) group and 3.1% of controls. There was no difference between the 2 groups in rehospitalization duration (P = 0.49), rate of surgical intervention (P = 0.85), and rate of readmission with further hemorrhage (P = 0.92).

Conclusion: Hydrogen peroxide mouthwash does not improve the outcome of secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage in pediatric patients.

Significance: This study does not support the common practice of treating post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage with H(2)O(2).

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Mouthwashes / therapeutic use*
  • Postoperative Hemorrhage / diagnosis
  • Postoperative Hemorrhage / therapy*
  • Probability
  • Reference Values
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Tonsillectomy / adverse effects*
  • Tonsillectomy / methods
  • Tonsillitis / diagnosis
  • Tonsillitis / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Mouthwashes
  • Hydrogen Peroxide