• Andrew R Simonsen, James A Duncavage, and Samuel S Becker.
• University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, USA.
• Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. 2010 Sep 1; 74 (9): 977-9.

ObjectiveTo examine sources of litigation following tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy.Study DesignAnalysis of malpractice claims filed after tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy provided by 16 medical liability insurance companies.SettingNot applicable.Subjects And MethodsData was obtained from 16 members of the Physician Insurers Association of America. All claims were either filed or closed between 1985 and 2006. Claims were evaluated and categorized according to the type of complication.ResultsOne hundred and fifty-four claims were identified between 1985 and 2006. Six categories were created based on frequency of claims (bleeding complication n=27 [17.5%], airway fire n=2 [1.5%], burns n=28 [18.2%], consent related n=9 [5.8%], medication related n=9 [5.8%] and residual tissue/recurrence n=9 [5.8%]). Other less frequent claims were grouped as miscellaneous n=70 [45.5%].ConclusionsA significant portion of malpractice claims following tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy are related to complications not commonly discussed in the literature.Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

11 keywords...

hide…