• C M Philpott, D C Wild, D Mehta, M Daniel, and A R Banerjee.
• Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK. carl.phillpot@btopenworld.com
• Clin Otolaryngol. 2005 Apr 1; 30 (2): 143-8.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to compare postoperative symptoms following coblation tonsillectomy with those experienced following a traditional cold dissection.DesignA prospective randomized controlled trial.SettingSecondary otorhinolaryngology care.ParticipantsNinety-two adult patients with recurrent tonsillitis meriting tonsillectomy were recruited and randomly allocated into either coblation or cold dissection tonsillectomy groups.Main Outcome MeasuresPrimary outcomes were post-operative pain, otalgia, swallowing and analgesia use at 6-8 hours, 1, 3, 7 and 14 days post-operative. Secondary outcomes were post-operative day returned to eating and returned to normal activities/work.ResultsNo significant differences between the two groups (P >or= 0.1) were found in any of the above primary outcomes, apart from swallowing at 6-8 hrs post-operatively where the cold dissection group had less pain. This group also returned earlier to normal eating (P = 0.03). The power of the study was sufficient to show a difference in the visual analogue scores of 2 between groups.ConclusionsThe use of coblation to perform tonsillectomy does not confer any symptomatic benefits to the patient over conventional cold dissection tonsillectomy.

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