Risk factors for desaturation after tonsillectomy: analysis of 4092 consecutive pediatric cases

To identify clinical risk factors for oxygen desaturation in the first 24 hours post-tonsillectomy, thus permitting the identification of those patients who warrant inpatient monitoring. A retrospective analysis of 4092 consecutive patients undergoing tonsillectomy over a two-year period. Detailed clinical data were recorded for all patients who desaturated in the postoperative period (n = 294) and randomly selected controls (n = 368). Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed in order to identify independent risk factors for desaturation. There were 294/4092 patients (7.2%) who experienced desaturations (defined as sustained saturations