title: A comparison of the KTP/532-laser tonsillectomy vs. traditional dissection/snare tonsillectomy.
abstract: This study compared tonsillectomy by potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP/532) laser with tonsillectomy by traditional dissection and snare. Eighty-three consecutive patients who were candidates for a tonsillectomy were randomly assigned to one of four groups in a prospective study. The four treatments were bilateral traditional dissection/snare tonsillectomy, bilateral KTP/532-laser tonsillectomy, left laser tonsillectomy and right dissection/snare tonsillectomy, and left dissection/snare tonsillectomy and right laser tonsillectomy. Intraoperative comparisons were made between the two methods with regard to blood loss and operating time. Postoperatively bleeding and healing time were also recorded. A questionnaire answered on a daily basis assessed the patient's pain. Disadvantages of the KTP/532 tonsillectomy included increased cost, increased total operating time as a result of increased setup time and laser malfunctions, delayed healing, and no statistically significant improvement in level of pain. The sole advantage associated with the KTP/532 laser tonsillectomy was decreased blood loss, which may be significant for patients with a coagulopathy.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
authors: C L
authors: CL
authors: Strunk
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Nichols
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004210:Dissection / Q000295:instrumentation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology; D010710:Phosphates; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D014025:Titanium; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; C064806:potassium titanylphosphate; D014025:Titanium