Ethamsylate and blood loss during dissection tonsillectomy

Abstract

Summary: In a series of 101 unselected patients undergoing tonsillectomy by dissection, ethamsylate (10 mg/kg) was injected immediately before induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone. Anaesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide, oxygen and trichloroethylene in all patients. Blood loss was estimated by swab-weighing. No useful reduction in blood loss was found to result from the use of ethamsylate, though the need for vascular ligation, and the number of ligatures used, was slightly reduced. © 1966 John Sherratt and Son Ltd.