Guillotine tonsillectomy: anachronism or pragmatism

The results of a retrospective survey comparing the complications of guillotine tonsillectomy with those of dissection tonsillectomy are given. The problem of tonsil tags and adenoidectomy are discussed and a reappraisal of the indications for guillotine tonsillectomy are considered. We feel that guillotine tonsillectomy should only be carried out in very special circumstances.