After a tonsillectomy, which sign should prompt immediate reporting to the clinician?

After a tonsillectomy, which sign should prompt immediate reporting to the clinician?

• A. Mild throat pain
• B. Sore throat, mild
• C. Continuous swallowing
• D. Normal swallowing

Answer: (C)

Continuous swallowing after a tonsillectomy signals possible active bleeding in the throat. When bleeding occurs, blood can pool and the patient instinctively swallows to clear it, which is not typical after surgery. This situation can progress quickly and threaten the airway or cause significant blood loss, so it requires immediate clinician assessment. By comparison, mild throat pain or a mild sore throat are common after the procedure and can be managed with pain relief, and normal swallowing suggests there isn’t active bleeding.

Continuous swallowing after a tonsillectomy signals possible active bleeding in the throat. When bleeding occurs, blood can pool and the patient instinctively swallows to clear it, which is not typical after surgery. This situation can progress quickly and threaten the airway or cause significant blood loss, so it requires immediate clinician assessment.

By comparison, mild throat pain or a mild sore throat are common after the procedure and can be managed with pain relief, and normal swallowing suggests there isn’t active bleeding.