title: Carbon-dioxide laser-assisted tonsil ablation for adults with chronic tonsillitis: a 6-month follow-up study.
abstract: Sixty-six adult patients with a mean age of 44 years (range: 16-78) with chronic tonsillitis underwent laser-assisted tonsil ablation between January 1998 and January 2002. Instead of vaporization of the tonsil surface, extended serial tonsillectomy was performed, namely, vaporizing 80-90% of the palatine lymphoid tissue. Of the 66 patients, 49 (74%) underwent local anesthesia (LA group) and 17 (26%) general anesthesia (GA group). In the LA group, one surgical session sufficed for 40 patients (82%); two sessions were required for seven patients (14%) and three sessions for two patients (4%). Monopolar electrocautery was necessary to ensure hemostasis in two patients (3%). Median value results revealed a pain-intensity score of 4.5 (range: 0-10) for the GA group and 5 (range: 0-10) for the LA group. Pain lasted for 3 days (range: 0-15) in both groups (nonsignificant difference). A satisfaction score of 10 (range: 1-10) was recorded for the GA group and 8 (range: 1-10) for the LA group (P=0.029). The minimum follow-up was 6 months. Forty of the 49 LA group patients (82%) and 16 of the 17 GA group patients (94%) would recommend the surgical procedure and would accept undergoing the same operation again (nonsignificant difference).
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Louvain at Mont-Godinne, Avenue Therasse 1, 5530 Yvoir, Belgium. remacle@orlo.ucl.ac.be
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Remacle
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keghian
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jamart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide