title: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials comparing intracapsular tonsillectomy with total tonsillectomy in a pediatric population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform a systematic literature review and data synthesis of level-1 evidence comparing recovery-related outcomes after intracapsular tonsillectomy (IT) (any technique) with those of total tonsillectomy (TT) (any technique) in a pediatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two independent reviewers searched the following databases: Ovid MEDLINE, including old MEDLINE and pre-MEDLINE, EBM reviews, Books@Ovid and Journals@Ovid, the Web of Science with Conference Proceedings, and references from indexed articles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials conducted on a pediatric population comparing IT performed by any technique of dissection with TT, also performed by any technique of dissection. Two independent reviewers determined included trials with difference of opinion resolved by a third reviewer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Independent data extraction by 2 reviewers on the following outcomes: postoperative pain, analgesic use, recovery time, diet, bleeding rate, infection, and regrowth rate requiring further surgical intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heterogeneity of outcome measures and lack of reporting of raw data precluded formal meta-analysis. For quantitative data that could be extracted, pooled data analysis was performed using nonparametric tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recovery-related outcomes for IT were superior to TT (secondary hemorrhage rate, number of days until pain free) in a pediatric population with obstructive symptoms (level-1 evidence).
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, England.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Yaniv
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ebner
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Max M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: April
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003646:Debridement; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics