Pain scores and recovery post tonsillectomy: intracapsular versus extracapsular coblation

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Pediatric Surgery

Background:

• Tonsillectomy is a common pediatric surgical procedure.
• Coblation is a widely used technique for tonsillectomy.
• Different surgical approaches may impact post-operative outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare post-tonsillectomy pain and recovery between extracapsular and intracapsular coblation techniques.
• To evaluate the impact of surgical approach on patient morbidity.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study in a pediatric ENT department.
• Pain scores assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) on days 0, 2, 4, and 8.
• Recorded return to normal fluid/solid intake and post-operative primary care visits.

Main Results:

• 101 patients analyzed.
• Intracapsular coblation showed statistically lower pain scores on days 2, 4, and 8.
• Intracapsular group had quicker return to normal intake and fewer GP visits.

Conclusions:

• Intracapsular tonsillectomy demonstrates reduced overall morbidity.
• This approach is a viable alternative for tonsillectomy in selected pediatric cases.