title: Impedance-controlled radiofrequency vs. cold dissection tonsillectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency (RF) and cold dissection (CD) tonsillectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, double-blind, controlled clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fourteen patients underwent tonsillectomy. The RF and CD techniques were used for the right and left tonsils, respectively; the patients and examining physicians were blinded to this information to avoid bias. We compared operation times, intraoperative bleeding, and postoperative pain associated with the respective techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The RF and CD techniques required similar operation times. Intraoperative bleeding was lower after RF dissection than after CD. The severity of pain did not differ between the two techniques on postoperative day 1, but was significantly lower for the CD technique than the RF technique on postoperative days 5 and 10.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RF technique is superior to CD regarding intraoperative bleeding, but not regarding operation time or time to return to a painless dietary regimen.
authors: M H
authors: MH
authors: Ozkull
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Bayram
authors: H H
authors: HH
authors: Balikci
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Karakas
authors: A A
authors: AA
authors: Bayram
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Gurdal
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Chatzi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult