title: Pediatric total tonsillectomy using coblation compared to conventional electrosurgery: a prospective, controlled single-blind study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postoperative recovery after tonsillectomy using Coblation excision (CES) was compared with conventional electrosurgery (ES).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients aged 3 to 12 years from 3 clinical sites were randomly assigned and blinded to receive tonsillectomy using CES (n = 44) or ES (n = 45).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Operative parameters did not differ between groups. Return to normal diet, activity, and pain-free status were similar, although fewer CES patients contacted the physician regarding postoperative complications (33% vs 54%; p = 0.081), experienced nausea (35% vs 62%, p = 0.013), or had localized site-specific swelling (p < 0.05) during the 2 weeks after surgery. In addition, CES children tended to discontinue prescription narcotics 1 day earlier than ES patients (7 vs 8 days, p = 0.071) and took one half as many daily doses. More CES than ES parents rated the postoperative experience as 'better than expected' (79% vs 60%, p = 0.055).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children who received CES tonsillectomy appeared to experience a better quality postoperative course, with no detriment to operative benefits of conventional electrosurgery.
authors.affiliation: Mountain West Ear, Nose, and Throat, Boutiful, UT 84010, USA. kelly@thestokers.com
authors.forename: Kelly E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Stoker
authors.forename: Debra M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Don
authors.forename: D Richard
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Haupert
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magit
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Madgy
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000601:surgery*