McMaster Children's Hospital has announced a temporary suspension of scheduled tonsil and adenoid surgeries for patients under the age of 18 after officials stated that two pediatric patients who underwent the procedure died shortly after leaving the hospital.

A spokesperson for Hamilton Health Sciences confirmed in a statement that one child died in May and another in June. One child died the day after the operation, while the second died nine days after the procedure.

The spokesperson added that although there is no clear link between the two cases, the hospital has halted tonsil and adenoid surgeries "out of an abundance of caution."

The statement noted that procedures will be temporarily paused until "a comprehensive review of the program can be completed by independent external parties."

The statement, which was sent via email on Wednesday, said: “Our heartfelt condolences to these families on their tragic loss.”

“Our teams are in the process of informing patients/families that their scheduled care/surgery has been impacted.”

At this stage, the cause of death in the two separate cases has not been disclosed.

Hamilton Health Sciences stated that the hospital will continue to perform emergency surgeries, and the ear, nose, and throat clinic “is still operating.”