Objectives: To compare coblation adenotonsillectomy with conventional cold steel adenotonsillectomy

Materials and Methods: 60 patients with bilateral tonsillar enlargement with adenoid hypertrophy were randomly assigned into two groups- one underwent coblation adenotonsillectomy and the other by conventional cold steel method, the operating surgeon being the same for both groups. The two groups were compared in terms of operating time, intra-operative haemorrhage, post-operative haemorrhage, pain, recovery time (ability to take solid foods), residual tissue.

Results: Coblation adenotonsillectomy required a significantly shorter operating time when compared to cold steel. The intra-operative blood loss was significantly less in Coblation adenotonsillectomy. There was no difference between the two procedures in terms of post-operative blood loss. There was significantly less post-operative pain in Coblation technique when compared to cold steel dissection method on the seventh post-operative day. However, no significant differences were found when documented at six hours and Day 1 post-operatively. Coblation adenotonsillectomy patients underwent faster recovery compared to the cold steel group. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of residual tissue remnant till 6 weeks follow-up.

Conclusion: Coblation adenotonsillectomy appears to be a good alternative to the conventional cold steel method provided adequate facilities of coblation setup is available and the operating surgeon is well-versed with the new technology.

Keywords: Tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, coblation.

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Soutrik Kumar

Ex Junior Resident, IOOT, SSKM, Kolkata, India