Post-tonsillectomy morbidities: randomised, prospective controlled clinical trial of cold dissection versus thermal welding tonsillectomy.
BACKGROUND
New surgical techniques and devices have been described that decrease post-tonsillectomy morbidities. This study aimed to compare the two most popular tonsillectomy techniques.


METHODS
Forty children underwent tonsillectomies using both the thermal welding and cold dissection techniques. In each patient, one side was removed with thermal welding and the other was removed with cold dissection.


RESULTS
There was a significant decrease in intra-operative blood loss, and the mean operation time was significantly lower on the thermal welding side compared with the cold dissection side. On the cold dissection side, tissue healing (i.e. the rate of complete tissue healing) was better and less pain was reported compared with the thermal welding side. However, there were no significant differences between the two techniques in terms of throat pain scores on the 1st, 3rd or 14th day post-operatively, or tissue healing scores on any of the post-operative days assessed.


CONCLUSIONS
Cold dissection resulted in better tissue healing and lower pain scores than thermal welding, but thermal welding was associated with less intra-operative blood loss and lower mean operation time than cold dissection.
Otorhinolaryngology Department, Bagcilar Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
S
S
Aydin
Otorhinolaryngology Department, Bagcilar Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
U
U
Taskin
Otorhinolaryngology Department, Bagcilar Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
B
B
Altas
Otorhinolaryngology Department, Bagcilar Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
M
M
Erdil
Otorhinolaryngology Department, Bagcilar Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
T
T
Senturk
Otorhinolaryngology Department, Taksim Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
S
S
Celebi
Otorhinolaryngology Department, Bagcilar Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
M F
MF
Oktay
D000293:Adolescent; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003080:Cold Temperature; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing