title: [Tonsillectomy technique: bipolar scissors vs raspatory: results of a case control study in 138 patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative bleeding is the major complication in tonsillectomy, and pain the most common side effect. The use of bipolar scissors versus blunt dissection tonsillectomy were compared in this study in order to evaluate postoperative bleeding and pain, as well as operative time.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case control study, 138 patients with the diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis, mononucleosis or a peritonsillar abscess were divided into two groups. A total of 78 patients were operated using bipolar scissors while 60 patients underwent tonsillectomy by blunt dissection. Operating time, frequency of postoperative bleeding and the postoperative pain score were compared between these two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average operating time in the bipolar scissor group showed a tendency to be shorter than in the blunt dissection group (mean 4.1 min), although this did not reach a level of statistical significance. No differences were seen in pain scores or in the incidence of postoperative bleeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data documented in this study show that tonsillectomy with bipolar scissors might represent a surgical option to reduce surgical time in a larger patient group. Postoperative pain and the incidence of postoperative bleeding did not show any statistical difference between the two surgical techniques.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Mainz, Mainz, Germany. heyden@hno.klinik.uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: H v
authors.initials: Hv
authors.lastname: Heyden
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jecker
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gosepath
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome