Total versus subtotal tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis - a prospective randomized noninferiority clinical...

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Innovation
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Recurrent tonsillitis necessitates effective treatments.
• Tonsillectomy carries significant comorbidity risks.
• Partial tonsillectomy is explored as a less invasive alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate subtotal tonsillectomy as a therapeutic alternative to total tonsillectomy.
• To assess efficacy in adult patients with recurrent acute tonsillitis.

Main Methods:

• Single-blind, prospective, non-inferiority randomized clinical trial with intraindividual design.
• 80 adult patients with recurrent tonsillitis underwent total tonsillectomy on one side and subtotal tonsillectomy on the other.
• Primary outcomes: frequency of postoperative tonsillitis and pharyngitis.

Main Results:

• No recurrent tonsillitis cases observed within 12 months post-subtotal tonsillectomy.
• Subtotal tonsillectomy resulted in significantly less postoperative pain compared to total tonsillectomy.

Conclusions:

• Subtotal tonsillectomy demonstrates potential as a viable treatment option for recurrent tonsillitis.
• This approach may offer lower morbidity than traditional total tonsillectomy in adults.