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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
CO2-Lasertonsillotomy Under Local Anesthesia in Adults
Published on: November 6, 2019
Double-blind randomized controlled study of coblation tonsillotomy versus coblation tonsillectomy on postoperative
1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Blackpool Victoria Hospital, UK. arvind7@tesco.net
Insights
This study found no significant pain difference in children undergoing coblation tonsillectomy versus coblation tonsillotomy. Both surgical techniques for tonsil removal appear equally effective in managing immediate postoperative pain.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Surgical Pain Management
Background:
- Tonsillectomy and tonsillotomy are common procedures for pediatric airway obstruction.
- Coblation technology offers a minimally invasive approach to tonsil surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare postoperative pain experienced by children undergoing coblation tonsillectomy versus coblation tonsillotomy.
- To determine if surgical technique impacts immediate pain perception.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with 18 children.
- Each child served as their own control, with one tonsil removed by tonsillectomy and the other by tonsillotomy.
- Pain was quantified using a four-point visual analogue scale over 24 hours.
Main Results:
- Area Under the Curve (AUC) analysis showed no statistically significant difference in pain scores between the two techniques (P=0.85).
- The 95% confidence interval for the difference included zero, indicating no demonstrable effect.
Conclusions:
- Coblation tonsillectomy and coblation tonsillotomy result in comparable pain levels for children in the immediate 24-hour postoperative period.
- The choice of technique does not appear to influence short-term pain outcomes.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to establish if children experienced any difference in pain, between coblation tonsillectomy and coblation tonsillotomy.
Design:
A double-blind randomized controlled trial was performed.
Setting:
District general hospital department of Otolaryngology.
Participants:
Eighteen children listed for tonsillectomy were recruited into the study. Each was randomly assigned either tonsillotomy or tonsillectomy in the right tonsil. The contralateral tonsil was removed by the other method. In the first 24-h period (while in hospital) the children were interviewed at 2, 5, 10 and 24 h to quantify the pain they perceived in right and left sides. There was a four point visual analogue scoring system for monitoring pain. The power of the study was 80%. In this study the patients were their own controls.
Main Outcome Measures:
Visual analogue pain scores were plotted against time and the area under the curves was calculated (AUC).
Results:
The AUC mean difference was 0.47. A t-test for the difference gives a P-value of 0.85 and a 95% confidence interval for difference is -0.79 to 5.73, which clearly contains zero. Using AUC as a combined pain score there is no statistically significant difference between tonsillotomy and tonsillectomy (power value of 80%).
Conclusions:
There is no demonstrable statistical difference between techniques when measuring pain experienced by children in the 24-h postoperative period.
