Coblation: improving outcomes for children following adenotonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, 2 of the most common childhood surgeries, are performed for a number of indications, the most common being airway obstruction caused by adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Other indications for tonsillectomy include recurrent pharyngotonsillitis, streptococcal carriage, recurrent peritonsillar abscess, halitosis, and presumed neoplasia. Although adenotonsillar surgery is a safe and effective technique for treating disease and obstruction, parents remain concerned about postoperative morbidity, for which the potential is much greater after tonsillectomy than adenoidectomy. Postoperative pain and hemorrhage are 2 unpleasant side effects that can prolong postoperative recovery. Surgeons use a variety of surgical techniques to remove the tonsils and adenoids. When compared with older techniques, such as cold steel dissection and monopolar electrocautery, a new technique named Coblation that uses lower temperatures than electrocautery to remove tonsil tissue and achieve hemostasis, has been shown to reduce pain and decrease postoperative narcotic use, leading to shorter recovery times and a quicker return to normal in children.