Lingual tonsillectomy: a review of 5 years experience and evolution of surgical technique.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the indications for lingual tonsillectomy; to report our experience with lingual tonsillectomy, and to present the evolution of our surgical technique.


METHODS
A review of 5-years experience from a prospectively maintained database of 28 patients was performed together with a focused review of the international literature. Therapeutic procedures included lingual tonsillectomy with access via the Boyle-Davis gag or suspended video laryngoscope and with the resection via diathermy, CO(2) laser, or microdebrider.


RESULTS
The indication for lingual tonsillectomy was upper airways obstruction in 22 patients and recurrent infection in six. The operative time for lingual tonsillectomy ranged from 35 to 80 minutes (mean time, 43 minutes). The perioperative in-hospital stay ranged from one to three days for 27 patients. All did very well postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Lingual tonsillar pathology may cause significant morbidity and is frequently the cause of persisting peripheral obstructive sleep apnea syndrome after adenotonsillectomy. Lingual tonsillectomy performed with video laryngoscopy and microdebrider resection is feasible and safe and provides good results.
Barakate
Michael
M
The University of New South Wales, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Prince of Wales Hospital Campus/Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Havas
Thomas
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013523:Surgical Equipment; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000601:surgery*