[Post-tonsillectomy hyponatremia: a posible lethal complication]

Fatal hemorrhage after tonsillectomy

This is the first report of a segmental mediolysis occurring in arterioles, affecting the neck/tonsillar region and leading to a fatal hemorrhage after a tonsillectomy in a 20-year-old woman. Arteriolar mediolysis could be observed in tissue layers about 2 cm distant from the tonsillectomy region. Reparative changes were observed in the carotid and small neck arteries as well as in only one intramyocardial arteriole; however, no other vascular regions typically reported in segmental mediolysis arteriopathy were affected and aneurysm formation was not observed. No family history of vascular disease or hypertension was known. Pathophysiologically, previously reported reasons for post-tonsillectomy bleeding could be excluded. Segmental mediolysis may represent a wider spectrum of affected arteriolar vessels besides the reported small and medium sized arteries leading to aneurysms, which impedes radiographic diagnosis.

Isotonic versus hypotonic maintenance IV fluids in hospitalized children: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the safety of isotonic versus hypotonic intravenous (IV) maintenance fluids in hospitalized children.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov (up to April 11, 2013) for RCTs that compared isotonic to hypotonic maintenance IV fluid therapy in hospitalized children. Relative risk (RR), weighted mean differences, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated based on the effects on plasma sodium (pNa). The risk of developing hyponatremia (pNa <136 mmol/L), severe hyponatremia (pNa <130 mmol/L), and hypernatremia (pNa >145 mmol/L) was evaluated. We adopted a random-effects model in all meta-analyses. Sensitivity analyses by missing data were also performed.

RESULTS

Ten RCTs were included in this review. The meta-analysis showed significantly higher risk of hypotonic IV fluids for developing hyponatremia (RR 2.24, 95% CI 1.52 to 3.31) and severe hyponatremia (RR 5.29, 95% CI 1.74 to 16.06). There was a significantly greater fall in pNa in children who received hypotonic IV fluids (-3.49 mmol/L versus isotonic IV fluids, 95% CI -5.63 to -1.35). No significant difference was found between the 2 interventions in the risk of hypernatremia (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.22 to 2.48). None of the findings was sensitive to imputation of missing data.

CONCLUSIONS

Isotonic fluids are safer than hypotonic fluids in hospitalized children requiring maintenance IV fluid therapy in terms of pNa.

Malpractice claims and unintentional outcome of tonsil surgery and other standard procedures in otorhinolaryngology

BACKGROUND

Septoplasty, tonsillectomy (with and without adenoidectomy) and cervical lymph node excision are amongst the most common 50 inpatient operations in Germany. Intracapsular tonsillectomies (i.e. tonsillotomies) are increasingly performed. The aim of this study was to evaluate technical traps and pitfalls as well as alleged medical malpractice associated with tonsillectomy (TE), adenoidectomy (AE), tonsillotomy (TT), septoplasty (SP) and cervical lymph node excision (LN).

METHODS

A questionnaire was sent to the Regional Medical Conciliation Boards, Medical Services of the Health Insurance Companies (MDK) and Regional Institutes of Forensic Medicine in Germany to collect anonymized cases of complications following TE, TT, AE, LN and SP. The results were discussed in the light of the contemporary medical literature and published trials and verdicts in Germany.

RESULTS

The response rate of our survey was 55.9%. The Institutes of Forensic Medicine contributed nine cases, 49 cases were submitted by the Regional Conciliation Boards and none by MDK. All forensic cases were associated with exsanguinations following tonsillectomy including two children (5 and 8 years of age) and seven adults (aged 20 to 69 years). The fatal post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) had occurred 8.7 days on average; four patients experienced the bleeding episode at home (day 5, 8, 9 and 17, respectively). Repeated episodes of bleeding requiring surgical intervention had occurred in 6 patients. Three Conciliation Boards submitted decicions associated with TT (1), AE (4), LN (3), SP (16) and TE (25). Cases with lethal outcome were not registered. Only three of the 49 cases were assessed as surgical malpractice (6.1%) including lesion of the spinal accessory nerve, wrong indication for TE and dental lesion after insertion of the mouth gag. The review of the medico legal literature yielded 71 published verdicts after AE and TE (29), LN (28) and SP (14) of which 37 resulted in compensation of malpractice after LN (16; 57%), TE (10; 37%), SP (8; 57%) and AE (2; 100%). There were 16 cases of PTH amongst 27 trials after TE resulting either in death (5) or apallic syndrome (5). Bleeding complications had occurred on the day of surgery in only 2 patients. 16 trials were based on malpractice claims following SP encompassing lack of informed consent (6), anosmia (4), septal perforation (2), frontobasal injury (2) and dry nose (2). Trials after LN procedures were associated exclusively with a lesion of the spinal accessory nerve (28), including lack of informed consent in 19 cases. 49 cases (69%) were decided for the defendant, 22 (31%) were decided for the plaintiff with monetary compensation in 7 of 29 AE/TE-trials, 9 of 28 LN-trials and 6 of 14 SP-trials. Lack of informed consent was not registered for AE/TE but LN (11) and SP (2).

CONCLUSION

Complicated cases following TE, TT, ATE, SP and LN are not systematically collected in Germany. It can be assumed, that not every complicated case is published in the medical literature or law journals and therefore not obtainable for scientific research. Alleged medical malpracice is proven for less than 6% before trial stage. Approximately half of all cases result in a plaintiff verdict or settlement at court. Proper documentation of a thourough counselling, examination, indication, informed consent and follow-up assists the surgeon in litigation. An adequate complication management of PTH is essential, including instructions for the patients/parents, instructions for the medical staff and readily available surgical instruments. Successful outcome of life-threatening PTH is widely based on a proper airway management in an interdisciplinary approach. Electrosurgical tonsillectomy techniques were repeatedly labeled as a risk factor for bleeding complications following TE. Institutions should analyse the individual PTH rate on a yearly basis. Contradictory expert opinions and verdicts of the courts concerning spinal accesory nerve lesions following LN are due to a lack of a surgical standard.

New aspects in the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of hyponatremic encephalopathy in children

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality encountered in children. In the past decade, new advances have been made in understanding the pathogenesis of hyponatremic encephalopathy and in its prevention and treatment. Recent data have determined that hyponatremia is a more serious condition than previously believed. It is a major comorbidity factor for a variety of illnesses, and subtle neurological findings are common. It has now become apparent that the majority of hospital-acquired hyponatremia in children is iatrogenic and due in large part to the administration of hypotonic fluids to patients with elevated arginine vasopressin levels. Recent prospective studies have demonstrated that administration of 0.9% sodium chloride in maintenance fluids can prevent the development of hyponatremia. Risk factors, such as hypoxia and central nervous system (CNS) involvement, have been identified for the development of hyponatremic encephalopathy, which can lead to neurologic injury at mildly hyponatremic values. It has also become apparent that both children and adult patients are dying from symptomatic hyponatremia due to inadequate therapy. We have proposed the use of intermittent intravenous bolus therapy with 3% sodium chloride, 2 cc/kg with a maximum of 100 cc, to rapidly reverse CNS symptoms and at the same time avoid the possibility of overcorrection of hyponatremia. In this review, we discuss how to recognize patients at risk for inadvertent overcorrection of hyponatremia and what measures should taken to prevent this, including the judicious use of 1-desamino-8d-arginine vasopressin (dDAVP).

Plain Dextrose 5% in Water or Hypotonic Saline Solutions Could Result in Acute Hyponatremia and Death in Healthy Children; Investigate and Clarify Requests for Missing Doses; Provera, Prozac, or Proscar?

These medication errors have occurred in health care facilities at least once. They will happen again—perhaps where you work. Through education and alertness of personnel and procedural safeguards, they can be avoided. You should consider publishing accounts of errors in your newsletters and/or presenting them at your inservice training programs.

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Lethal outcome of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage

Despite the large number of tonsillectomies performed little knowledge exists about post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) with lethal outcome. This study was performed to evaluate clinical features in a larger patient population with emphasis on the onset of this complication. A nationwide collection of cases was performed based on personal communication, expert reports to lawsuits and professional boards, and case reports received after a plea published in a professional national journal. Clinical data of 29 patients were collected of whom the 18 were children (64%). With one exception all patients experienced secondary PTH (>24 h) occurring 1-28 days after tonsillectomy. Aspiration contributed to lethal outcome in 13 cases. Fatalities were unavoidable although 21 patients were in the hospital. Massive vomiting of blood was observed in 11 patients. There were 11 patients without (group A) and 18 with (group B) episodes of repeated bleeding. This study suggests that particularly children are endangered by lethal PTH. Inpatient treatment was unable to prevent lethal outcome in this selected patient population. However, it appears wise to re-admit patients with delayed PTH, since excessive PTH may occur. These unexpected and unpredictable situations require an immediate and adequate medical treatment by a skilled staff. The paucity of data currently does not allow calculation of a cut-off point at which the risk of life-threatening PTH significantly decreases. Secondary PTH remains a substantial complication.