[Tonsillotomy with the argon-supported monopolar needle--first clinical results].
BACKGROUND
Primary management of tonsillar hyperplasia in children is tonsillectomy. Recent data from clinical case-series are clearly in support of the hypothesis that tonsillotomy with the CO2-laser seems to be effective and is noted to have less postoperative bleeding and less pain as compared to tonsillectomy. For the first time we used a monopolar argon-supported needle for tonsillotomy in the following study.


METHODS
Fifty patients (age: 4.58 years; SD +/- 2.33) with benign tonsillar hyperplasia were recruited. For tonsillotomy we used the monopolar argon-supported needle. The outcome measures were postoperative pain, capability of oral intake, consumption of analgesics and postoperative bleeding.


RESULTS
No postoperative bleeding occurred. Post-operative pain hardly occurred and could easily be controlled. The third postoperative day analgesics intake was under one portion per day (mean: 0.91; SD +/- 1.26). Capability of oral intake and swallowing was normal on the seventh postoperative day.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that tonsillotomy, using the monopolar argon-supported needle, is a valid treatment for benign tonsillar hyperplasia in children, which can be performed with slight post-operative pain and a low risk for postoperative bleeding. It offers good dissection and haemostasis abilities. Compared to the CO2-laser the monopolar argon-supported needle does not require any laser safety precautions.
Huber
K
K
Universitäts-HNO-Klinik Mannheim. kerstin.huber@hno.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Sadick
H
H
Maurer
J T
JT
Hörmann
K
K
Hammerschmitt
N
N
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000601:surgery; D012913:Snoring / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome