title: Postoperative pain after adult tonsillectomy with PlasmaKnife compared to monopolar electrocautery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Monopolar cautery is the most commonly used technique for tonsillectomy. The aim of the present study is to compare postoperative pain using a new technology, PlasmaKnife tonsillectomy (PKT), in comparison with monopolar cautery tonsillectomy (MCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, single-blinded, self-controlled study using paired organs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two adult patients, aged 18 to 30 years, scheduled for tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis were included. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo PKT on one side and MCT on the opposite side. The primary outcome was self-rated daily pain assessed by using a 10-point scale. Patients were provided 21-day pain diaries and were phoned twice weekly by a research assistant to assess pain and remind them to complete diaries. Secondary outcomes included comparisons of operative time, blood loss, and postoperative complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Repeated measures analysis of variance comparing PKT to MCT during the 21-day postoperative period revealed no difference in postoperative pain between the two groups (P = .131). In addition, total operative time (P = .276) and blood loss (P = .418) did not differ significantly between PKT and MCT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adult subjects undergoing PKT do not experience less postoperative pain in comparison to MCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA. timothy.clenney@med.navy.mil
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clenney
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bondy
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zizak
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult