title: [Hydrodissection for tonsillectomy. Results of a pilot study--intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain symptoms and risk of secondary hemorrhage].
abstract: : Tonsillectomy is one of the most common procedures in head and neck surgery. Various techniques have been developed to reduce the risk of postoperative bleeding and postoperative pain. Water-jet technology has been designed for a gentle dissection of parenchymal organs. We report the results of a first pilot study using the water-jet technique for tonsillectomy.METHODS.: Water-jet-cutting tonsillectomy was compared with conventional blunt dissection tonsillectomy. 60 Patients were stratified in two groups within a preliminary prospective randomised study. Postoperative pain scores, frequency of postoperative bleeding and intraoperative blood loss were documented.RESULTS.: There was no difference in the average duration of the surgical procedure. The intraoperative bloodloss was markedly decreased in water-jet-cutting tonsillectomy. Postoperative bleeding and postoperative pain were decreased in the water-jet-cutting group.CONCLUSION.: The results of this pilot study demonstrate that water-cutting tonsillectomy is associated with less intraoperative bleeding, reduced frequency of postoperative bleeding events and with less postoperative pain.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf-Halschirurgie, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Ulm. kai.lorenz@extern.uni-ulm.de
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kresz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006472:Oral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*