Prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled study to compare two methods of performing adenoidectomy

To compare adenoidectomy using suction-diathermy ablation to curettage adenoidectomy with respect to operative time and adenoid regrowth at 6 months after surgery.

A prospective, randomized, single-blind, study to compare two methods of performing adenoidectomy. A group of 100 children, undergoing adenoidectomy alone or in combination with tonsillectomy, were randomized into two groups and underwent either suction diathermy or curettage adenoidectomy by a single surgeon.

A tertiary care Paediatric Hospital.

Indication for surgery, adenoidal size, duration of surgery and complications were recorded and compared. Six-month follow-up was conducted and adenoidal size and symptom status were recorded and compared. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel.

One hundred patients participated in this study and underwent adenoidectomy alone or adenotonsillectomy. Ninety-two patients returned for follow-up and 91 patients completed the study. The two treatment groups were well matched for age and gender. The main indications for both groups were snoring, nasal obstruction and obstructive sleep apnoea. For adenoidectomy alone there was no significant difference in duration of surgery between the curette and suction diathermy groups. When performing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy together suction diathermy took significantly longer to complete than curettage (P<0.001). Overall 96% of patients' symptoms had either improved or resolved. The post-operative comparison at 6 months showed a significant difference in the residual adenoidal size between the two groups, the suction diathermy group being generally smaller than the curettage group.

Suction diathermy was better at reducing the adenoidal size 6 months after surgery. Although the difference in size was statistically significant it did not seem to be of clinical significance.