Comparison of bipolar scissors and bipolar forceps in tonsillectomy.
Bipolar diathermy scissors tonsillectomy is a relatively new surgical technique. We conducted a prospective study of 90 patients to compare this technique with bipolar forceps tonsillectomy. We found that the use of the bipolar scissors required significantly less operating time (mean: 3.03 min less) and allowed patients to resume eating solid food more rapidly (mean: 40.35 min earlier). Bipolar scissors tonsillectomy was safe, and there were no intraoperative complications or primary hemorrhages. A postoperative follow-up telephone survey revealed that patients who underwent scissors tonsillectomy experienced no more morbidity than did the forceps group during the first 2 weeks after surgery. We conclude that bipolar scissors tonsillectomy is a safe and rapid technique that can be used successfully as an outpatient procedure.
Patel
Nitesh
N
Department of Otolaryngology, Mayday University Hospital, Thornton Heath, Surrey, U.K. nitesh.hema@talk21.com
Kirkland
Paul
P
Tandon
Pavan
P
Hung
Terry
T
Knight
Jeff
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013997:Time Factors; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome