Electrocautery versus cold knife technique adenotonsillectomy: a cost analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Much has been written about the merits of various techniques of adenotonsillectomy. Proponents of each technique tout many virtues over one another. However, cost remains one variable that has not been thoroughly addressed. In this study, we compared the surgery time, anesthesia time, bleeding, and cost between 2 well-established techniques. Electrocautery tonsillectomy/adenoid ablation was compared against traditional cold knife dissection with adenoid curette.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review of 275 patients in a large tertiary teaching hospital.


RESULTS
The electrocautery group had overall savings of 8, 8, and 9 minutes in surgery, anesthesia, and operating room times, respectively. In terms of cost, the variable cost of the electrocautery group was 19% less than the cold knife dissection group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that cautery ablation of adenoids, when employed as part of adenotonsillectomy, enables the surgical team to save significant amount of time, and substantial cost for patients.


METHODS
B-3.
O-Lee
T J
TJ
Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Rowe
Mark
M
D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000191:economics* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000191:economics* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome