Clinical Analysis of Tonsillectomy by Dissection and Snare, Electrocautery, and Laser

Kim, Sang Hyun; Seo, Jeong Min; Oh, Young Suk

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The tonsillectomy is one of the most common operations in otolaryngology and is performed with a variety of surgical techniques. It seems that there is no superior technique regarding morbidity in tonsillectomy. So we attempted to find out preferable methods of tonsillectomy in clinical practice by comparing operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain, and postoperative hemorrhage.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The 45 patients admitted to the National Medical Center for tonsillectomy between May 1997 and February 1998 were entered into this study. All tonsillectomies were performed under general anesthesia by the same surgeon. Patients were divided into three study groups: group I: dissection/snare and laser: group II: dissection/snare and electrocautery: group III: electrocautery and laser.
RESULTS
The results were as follows 1) The operation time was shortest in dissection and snare method. 2) Electrocautery was the more painful method, and throat pain is less in laser but there was no statistical significance. 3) Postoperative otalgia and incidence of postoperative hemorrhage were statistically insignificant between the surgical methods.
CONCLUSION
From the above results, dissection and snare can reduce operation time and anesthesia time. Electrocautery or laser is useful in small children with bleeding tendency. For patients whom postoperative pain is the prime concern, laser may be preferable.