J Rhinol.  2011 Nov;18(2):107-111.

Clinical Comparison of Post-Tonsillectomy Pain : Tonsillectomy Using Cold Instrument Versus Tonsillectomy Using Electrocautery

• Lee HJ
• Kim YH
• Choi JS
• Kim BH
• Kang SH
• Lim DJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Tonsillectomy is one of the most common operations in otolaryngology and is performed with various surgical techniques. It seems that there is no superior technique regarding post-tonsillectomy pain. We attempted to identify preferable methods of tonsillectomy in clinical practice by comparing the levels of postoperative pain.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between June 2009 and Jan 2010, 80 cases of tonsillectomy were performed. In Group A (age : 10-15 years, 40 cases), 20 cases involved tonsillectomy via snare. The other 20 underwent tonsillectomy using electrocautery. The same surgical division was applied in Group B (25-40 ages, 40 cases). All tonsillectomies were performed under general anesthesia by the same surgeon. RESULT: The mean duration of postoperative pain after tonsillectomy by snare and tonsillectomy by electrocautery in Group A was 5.2+/-2.1 and 6.7+/-3.7, respectively. The mean duration of postoperative pain after tonsillectomy by snare and tonsillectomy by electrocautery in Group B was 7.4+/-1.4 and 10.8+/-3.2, respectively. The results indicate that electrocautery is the more painful method of the two tested methods. The difference in post-tonsillectomy pain was statistically significant between the surgical methods.
CONCLUSION
It seems that snare tonsillectomy is a useful method for reducing post-tonsillectomy pain compared with that after electrocautery tonsillectomy.

Keyword

Snare; Electrocautery; Post-tonsillectomy pain

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, General
Cold Temperature
Electrocoagulation
Otolaryngology
Pain, Postoperative
SNARE Proteins
Tonsillectomy
SNARE Proteins