title: Bipolar diathermy tonsillectomy.
abstract: Tonsillectomy is an operation performed by various techniques. We have developed a bipolar diathermy dissection technique that allows a low intra-operative blood loss without an increase in complications. The average blood loss was less than 4 ml in 100 patients. Most were able to drink and eat by 4 and 10 hours respectively. There was no increase in analgesic requirements. No primary haemorrhage was recorded; three patients had a secondary haemorrhage. The technique allows accurate coagulation of blood vessel and is an easy procedure to learn.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Hope Hospital, Salford, UK.
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: el-Hakim
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rothera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000601:surgery; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000601:surgery*