The effect of bismuth subgallate as haemostatic agent in tonsillectomy

Tonsillectomy is one of the frequent operations performed by Otolaryngologists world over: Otolaryngologists are in search of a technique of tonsillectomy where the operation time and operative blood loss is less. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of bismuth subgallate (BSG) and adrenaline on tonsillectomy time blood loss during the surgery as well as on the number of ties used. A prospective randomized trial of 60 patients was carried out, in which 30 had a tonsillectomy performed using BSG as haemostatic agent and in the remaining no heamostatic agent was used. Application of BSG in the tonsillar fossae reduces the operation time by 31.49%, the operative blood loss by 33.28% and also reduces the number of ties used by 53.33%. All these results are statistically significant.