Variables registered in the nordic tonsil quality registers with definitions
| Variable | Definition |
| Date of birth Date of surgery | |
| Indication for surgery | |
| Airway obstruction/snoring/hypertrophic tonsils | Tonsils cause breathing disorder during sleep |
| Recurrent tonsillitis | At least three episodes of acute tonsillitis during the last 12 months |
| Peritonsillar abscess | Peritonsillar abscess or peritonsillitis warranting emergency operation or history of peritonsillar abscesses/peritonsillitis |
| Chronic tonsillitis | Prolonged inflammation of the tonsils (at least 3 months) affecting daily activities |
| Other | Free field to register other indications |
| Surgical unit | |
| Day case surgery | No admission overnight |
| Overnight surgery | Prearranged overnight admission |
| Type of surgery | |
| Primary surgery | No previous tonsil surgery performed |
| Revision surgery | Tonsillectomy or tonsillotomy performed previously |
| Extent of surgery | |
| Tonsillectomy only | Extracapsular removal of tonsils |
| Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy | Extracapsular removal of tonsils and removal of adenoids |
| Tonsillotomy only | Partial removal of tonsils |
| Tonsillotomy and adenoidectomy | Partial removal of tonsils and removal of adenoids |
| Surgical technique | |
| Cold steel | Procedure performed with cold instruments only, for example, knife, scissors or elevatorium |
| Radiofrequency | Radiofrequency energy is used for cutting and coagulation |
| Diathermy scissors | Procedure performed with bipolar diathermy scissors, which can simultaneously cut and coagulate |
| Ultracision | Procedure performed with instrument, which simultaneously cuts and coagulates using ultrasonic vibration |
| Dissection with bipolar diathermy | Tonsils are dissected using bipolar diathermy |
| Other | Free field to register other techniques |
| Technique for haemostasis | |
| Infiltration with local anaesthetic and adrenalin | Haemostasis achieved with epinephrine vasopressor effect |
| Monopolar diathermy | Heat coagulation of the vessels using monopolar diathermy |
| Bipolar diathermy | Heat coagulation of the vessels using bipolar diathermy |
| Ligature | Suture used to stop haemorrhage |
| Suture ligature | Suture with needle used to stop haemorrhage |
| Radiofrequency | Haemostasis achieved using radiofrequency instruments |
| None | Haemostasis achieved with compression only |
| Other | Free field to register other techniques |
| Primary haemorrhage requiring intervention (yes/no) | Any haemorrhage requiring intervention during initial hospital stay |