Comparative outcomes of coblation vs. dissection tonsillectomy: Intraoperative time and blood loss

Abstract

Background: Tonsillectomy is one of the most frequent surgical procedures in the treatment of diseases like chronic tonsillitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Two common techniques are performed: coblation and dissection. Coblation has been introduced as a less invasive alternative to the conventional dissection method, utilizing controlled ablation at temperatures between 60–70°C, thus potentially reducing thermal tissue damage, postoperative pain, and complications. The present study compared the outcomes of coblation versus dissection tonsillectomy in terms of intraoperative time, blood loss, and recovery. Objective: To compare the intraoperative time, blood loss, postoperative pain, and recovery times for both coblation and dissection tonsillectomy. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, from July to December 2020. Sixty patients aged between 5 and 45 years, diagnosed with chronic tonsillitis or tonsillar hypertrophy, were included in this trial and were divided into two groups: 30 patients underwent coblation tonsillectomy, while the other 30 were subjected to conventional dissection tonsillectomy. Intraoperative time and blood loss were measured, while postoperative recovery, pain, and return to normal activities were assessed. Results: The operative time (18.7±2.3 minutes vs 25.4±4.1 minutes) and blood loss (20.62±4.23 milliliters vs 48.72±6.31 milliliters) were significantly lower in the coblation group than in the dissection group (p