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Blood splash and tonsillectomy: an underestimated hazard to the otolaryngologist

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

Ivan Keogh ,
Stephen Hone ,
Michael Colreavey  and
Michael Walsh
Ivan Keogh
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/HNS, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, Ireland.
Stephen Hone
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/HNS, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, Ireland.
Michael Colreavey
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/HNS, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, Ireland.
Michael Walsh
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/HNS, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, Ireland.
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Abstract

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Mucocutaneous exposure is an important route of transmission of hepatitis viruses and HIV in healthcare workers. Few data exist in the literature on the risk of transconjunctival exposure during many surgical procedures. We investigated the use of eye protection during tonsillectomy and measured the incidence of potential eye splash. No otolaryngologist surveyed routinely used eye protection during tonsillectomy. Splash events occurred in 23 out of 103 tonsillectomies. In all cases the surgeon was unaware of the splash. Splash events were significantly more likely to occur during adult tonsillectomy (p < 0.05). We strongly advise the routine use of eye protection during tonsillectomy.

Keywords

TonsillectomyInfectionControl
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 115 , Issue 6 , June 2001 , pp. 455 - 456
Copyright
© Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2001