title: Comparison of Postoperative Pain in Children with Two Intracapsular Tonsillotomy Techniques and a Standard Tonsillectomy: Microdebrider and radiofrequency tonsillotomies versus standard tonsillectomies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the duration and severity of postoperative pain for two different tonsillotomy techniques (radiofrequency [RF] and microdebrider [MD]) with the standard tonsillectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This non-randomised retrospective study, carried out from February 2011 to September 2012, investigated 128 children in two independent centres: Heim Pál Children's Hospital in Budapest, Hungary, and Muscat Private Hospital in Muscat, Oman. Those undergoing conventional tonsillectomies acted as the control group. One centre tested the MD technique (n = 28) while the other centre tested the RF technique (n = 31).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pain-free period after the tonsillotomies was similar between the two techniques and ranged up to three days. Other indicators of pain resolution, like the use of a single analgesic, reduced night-time waking and the time taken to resume a normal diet, were also similar for the two groups. However, patients benefited significantly from having a tonsillotomy rather than a tonsillectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The partial resectioning of tonsillar tissue using the MD and RF techniques showed promising outcomes for a better postoperative quality of life when compared to a traditional tonsillectomy. In this study, the results of both the MD and RF tonsillotomy methods were almost identical in terms of the duration of postoperative pain and recovery time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose & Throat, Al Zahra Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
authors.forename: Levente
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deak
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose & Throat, Al Zahra Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saxton
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia & Critical Care, Muscat Private Hospital, Muscat, Oman;
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology & Bronchology, Heim Pál Children's Hospital, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Palma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benedek
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology & Bronchology, Heim Pál Children's Hospital, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Katona
keywords: Obstructive Sleep Apnoea; Postoperative Pain; Quality of Life; Tonsillectomy; Tonsillotomy