Coblation adenotonsillectomy: an improvement over electrocautery technique?
OBJECTIVE
To compare postoperative complication rates of coblation and electrocautery adenotonsillectomies.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


RESULTS
From January 2000 to June 2004, 1997 pediatric patients underwent adenotonsillectomy. 745 coblation, and 1252 electrocautery tonsillectomies were performed. Primary bleed, secondary bleed, and dehydration were seen in 3, 35, and 23 coblation, and 9, 41, and 64 electrocautery tonsillectomies, respectively. Data analysis revealed no significant difference in primary and secondary hemorrhage rate, but a higher dehydration rate in the electrocautery group (P=0.0423). A total of 602 coblation, 763 curette/cautery, and 632 electrocautery adenoidectomies were performed. Neck pain was seen in 0, 17, and 3 patients, respectively. Data analysis showed a higher incidence of neck pain with the curette/cautery technique compared with coblator and cautery techniques (P=0.0006 and P=0.0119, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Coblation tonsillectomy had similar rates of primary and secondary hemorrhage when compared with electrocautery tonsillectomy but a lower incidence of postoperative dehydration. Coblation adenoidectomy caused less postoperative neck pain than curette/cautery adenoidectomy without significant advantage over cautery adenoidectomy.


METHODS
B-3b.
Glade
Robert S
RS
Division of Otolaryngology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
Pearson
Susan E
SE
Zalzal
George H
GH
Choi
Sukgi S
SS
D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D000234:Adenoids / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000639:trends*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome