Incidence of complications for subtotal ionized field ablation of the tonsils.
OBJECTIVE
Ionized field ablation, or coblation-assisted subtotal tonsillectomy, has been described as a new alternative technique for the management of tonsillar disease. This study was designed to review the incidence of complications in patients undergoing this procedure.


METHODS
A 10-surgeon retrospective chart review of the intraoperative and postoperative complications of patients undergoing ionized field ablation subtotal removal of tonsils was performed. Postoperative pain, dietary restrictions, and activity level were not reviewed.


RESULTS
Of the 528 patients who underwent ionized field ablation of their tonsils, the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications compared favorably with those reported in retrospective studies in the literature for traditional subcapsular tonsillectomy. Significant postoperative bleeding occurred in less than 1%, and only 1 patient required surgical control of bleeding in the operating room. No patients required transfusions of any blood products.


CONCLUSIONS
Ionized field ablation subtotal tonsillectomy may offer an alternative to traditional subcapsular tonsillar surgery with a decreased incidence of postoperative complications. Further study is necessary to establish the complication rate of this technique.
Lee
Kelvin C
KC
Clinical Otolaryngology, New York University, 530 First Avenue, 3 New York, NY 10016, USA. kelvin.lee@med.nyu.edu
Altenau
Mark M
MM
Barnes
David R
DR
Bernstein
Joseph M
JM
Bikhazi
Nadim B
NB
Brettscheider
Frank A
FA
Caplan
Charles H
CH
Ditkowsky
William A
WA
Ingber
Craig F
CF
Klausner
Lee M
LM
Moghaddassi
Maseih M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*