["Ultrasound tonsillectomy" in comparison with conventional tonsillectomy]

The postoperative convalescence after tonsillectomy is difficult because of a high rate of secondary hemorrhages and severe pain. The Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel cuts in the longitudinal direction and coagulates simultaneously by means of a 55.500 Hz vibrating blade. A randomized prospective simple blind study was conceived to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the "Ultrasound Tonsillectomy" with the conventional method.

Between 8/1999 and 3/2000 25 tonsillectomies were performed with the Ultracision (TEuc-group) and 25 with conventional methods (TEkonv-group). The age of the patients was between 18 and 65 years.

The median intraoperative blood loss in the TEuc-group was significantly lower than the TEkonv-group (19.0 g/176.0 g), the pain symptoms were comparatively less. On the other hand postoperative blood losses of the TEuc-group were clearly higher (7/25 vs. 3/25), wounds healed more slowly, the development of the wound covering and the swelling of the uvula were significantly larger.

Based on the results of the study the ultrasound technique is not superior to the conventional tonsillectomy.