Gold laser tonsillectomy--a safe new method.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if Gold laser tonsillectomy is an acceptably safe method of removing tonsils by comparing its complication rates to other established methods, namely Coblation tonsillectomy and cold steel dissection tonsillectomy.


METHODS
A retrospective review of 748 consecutive patients, ages 2-18, undergoing tonsillectomy at a pediatric teaching institution.


METHODS
Tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy was performed utilizing either the Gold laser (n=435), Coblation device (n=153), or by cold steel dissection (n=160) between August 2005 and August 2007. Hospital charts were then reviewed to determine the rates of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage and dehydration requiring hospital admission.


RESULTS
In the Gold laser group there were 7 bleeding events (1.61%) and 7 dehydration admissions (1.61%). The Coblation group had 9 bleeding events (5.88%) and 1 dehydration admission (0.65%). The cold steel group had 1 bleed (0.63%) and 2 dehydration admissions (1.25%). The hemorrhage rate associated with Gold laser tonsillectomy was statistically equivalent to cold steel dissection (p=0.3710) and significantly lower than in our Coblation control group (p=0.0286).


CONCLUSIONS
Tonsillectomy by means of the Gold laser can be safely performed in the pediatric population.
Giles
Jerald E
JE
Department of Otolaryngology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue SL-59, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. jgiles@tulane.edu
Worley
N Knight
NK
Telusca
Natacha
N
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003681:Dehydration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000601:surgery; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome