Irreversible Electroporation for Tonsillar Ablation in Adults

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Electroporation

Background:

• Tonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure.
• Tonsillar hypertrophy can cause significant health issues.
• Current ablation methods carry risks of bleeding and pain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of irreversible electroporation (IRE) for tonsillar ablation.
• To assess pain, tonsil size reduction, and symptom improvement after IRE.

Main Methods:

• Prospective interventional case series of 23 adult patients.
• IRE performed using the ENTire™ system under anesthesia.
• Pain, tonsil size, and quality of life (Tonsil and Adenoid Health Status, Snore-VAS) assessed post-procedure.

Main Results:

• No intra- or postoperative bleeding observed.
• Significant reduction in tonsil size (P < .001).
• Marked improvement in quality of life scores and a 72% decrease in snoring.

Conclusions:

• IRE is a promising minimally invasive option for tonsillar hypertrophy.
• The procedure demonstrates safety with negligible bleeding and reduced pain.
• Further multicenter studies are warranted to confirm long-term efficacy.