Comparison of Cold Technique Tonsillectomy and Thermal Welding Tonsillectomy at Different Age Groups

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Techniques
• Pediatric Surgery

Background:

• Tonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure.
• Choosing the optimal tonsillectomy technique is crucial for patient outcomes.
• Cold technique and thermal welding are two distinct methods for tonsillectomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To objectively compare the advantages and disadvantages of cold technique tonsillectomy versus thermal welding tonsillectomy within the same patient.
• To evaluate perioperative bleeding, surgical dissection time, and postoperative pain associated with each technique.

Main Methods:

• A total of 100 patients (53 <12 years, 47 >12 years) underwent tonsillectomy.
• The right palatine tonsil was removed using the cold technique, and the left using thermal welding.
• Outcomes measured included perioperative bleeding, dissection time, and postoperative pain at day 1 and day 7.

Main Results:

• In patients younger than 12, cold technique resulted in higher perioperative bleeding (p<0.001).
• In patients older than 12, cold technique had higher perioperative bleeding (p<0.001), while thermal welding had longer dissection time (p<0.001) and higher postoperative pain on days 1 and 7 (p<0.001).
• Postoperative pain was significantly higher in older patients regardless of technique.

Conclusions:

• Both cold technique and thermal welding tonsillectomy offer unique advantages.
• The choice of technique may depend on patient age and specific surgical considerations.
• Both techniques can be considered for routine tonsillectomy application.