Cold/Cold vs. Bipolar Dissection Tonsillectomy: A Surgeon-Controlled Study of 400 Cases

Abstract

Surgeon controlled study of 200 cold/cold and 200 hot/hot tonsillectomy cases in one institution

Hot/hot resulted in higher overall rates of early and late post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage and return-to-theatre when compared to cold/cold methods.

Bipolar diathermy tonsillectomy resulted in a statistically significant higher rate of secondary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage than cold-steel of nearly three times.

Trainee surgeons performed better in bipolar haemostasis than cold-steel dissection with regard to post-operative morbidity.

With continued use of cold-steel tonsillectomy methods in both junior and senior surgeons, it is hoped that the rates of PTH and RTT will continue to improve.

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