title: Laser CO2tonsillotomy versus argon plasma coagulation (APC) tonsillotomy: A retrospective study with 10-year follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tonsillotomy is increasingly gaining acceptance as the treatment for tonsillar hyperplasia resulting in obstructive symptoms. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term results of CO2laser tonsillotomy with those of argon plasma coagulation (APC) tonsillotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data of 64 children, aged 2-10 years (mean 4.7 years), treated in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, in Homburg, Germany with APC (36 patients) or CO2laser (28 patients) for tonsillar hyperplasia between June 2004 and December 2004 were available for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five (APC: 26 patients, CO2: 19 patients) of the 64 patients (70.3%) could be contacted and were available for follow-up in a telephone survey conducted 10 years after surgery. The mean operation time was 17 min (range 10-25 min) in the APC group and 23 min (range 13-32 min) in the CO2group (p = 0.0003). No case of intra- or postoperative bleeding was documented. One minor intraoperative complication in the form of a superficial lip burn was documented in the APC group. During the minimum 10 years of follow-up, 1 patient treated with APC underwent a surgical revision because of tonsillar regrowth, whereas in the group of patients treated with CO2, no surgical revision was needed. Regarding the parents' assessment of their children's symptoms, 89.4% of the parents of the CO2laser group and 84.6% of the parents of the APC group reported that the overall long-term operation results of their children to be "very satisfying." Regarding complications, the need for secondary tonsillectomy, and parents' satisfaction, no statistically significant differences were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both CO2laser tonsillotomy and APC tonsillotomy are safe procedures leading to very satisfying results with respect to intra- and postoperative complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Centre, Homburg, Saar, Germany. Electronic address: g1981papaspyrou@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giorgos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papaspyrou
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Centre, Homburg, Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linxweiler
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Centre, Homburg, Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Knöbber
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Centre, Homburg, Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schick
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Centre, Homburg, Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Basel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al Kadah
mesh_terms: D057908:Argon Plasma Coagulation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery; D053685:Laser Therapy; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D061646:Operative Time; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010290:Parents; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Argon plasma coagulation (APC); CO(2) laser; Long term follow-up; Tonsillotomy