Local versus general anaesthesia in tonsillectomy.
Thirty-eight patients, suitable for tonsillectomy under local anaesthesia, were randomized and operated on under either local or general anaesthesia. The following parameters were compared: time in the operating room, duration of the operation, peroperative haemorrhage, number of ligatures required for haemostasis, postoperative haemorrhage, infection and weight loss. Post-operative discomfort was assessed using a visual analogue scale and a water drinking test. The total consumption of analgesic drugs in the post-operative period was recorded. The investigation shows that tonsillectomy under local anaesthesia, in suitable patients, is a safe alternative to tonsillectomy under general anaesthesia, and that considerable resources can be saved if the operation is performed with local anaesthesia.
Agren
K
K
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
Engquist
S
S
Danneman
A
A
Feychting
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D015431:Weight Loss