• Richard Schmidt, Amanda Herzog, Steven Cook, Robert O'Reilly, Ellen Deutsch, and James Reilly.
• Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19899, USA. rschmidt@nemours.org
• Arch Otolaryngol. 2007 Sep 1; 133 (9): 925-8.

ObjectiveTo compare the postoperative complications of intracapsular tonsillectomy using a microdebrider with traditional electrodissection tonsillectomy.DesignRetrospective chart review.SettingTertiary care pediatric referral center.PatientsThe medical records of 2944 patients undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy at our institution between January 1, 2002, and May 31, 2005, were reviewed.Main Outcome MeasuresIncidence of delayed postoperative hemorrhage, return to the hospital or emergency department for pain or dehydration, and the need for revision surgery.ResultsThere were 1731 patients in the intracapsular tonsillectomy group and 1212 in the traditional electrodissection tonsillectomy group. The incidence of delayed hemorrhage was 1.1% in the intracapsular tonsillectomy group and 3.4% in the traditional electrodissection tonsillectomy group (P < .001). For delayed hemorrhage requiring treatment in the operating room for control, the incidence was 0.5% in the intracapsular tonsillectomy group and 2.1% in the traditional electrodissection tonsillectomy group (P < .001). Treatment in the emergency department or hospital for pain or dehydration was necessary in 3.0% of the intracapsular tonsillectomy group and in 5.4% of the traditional electrodissection tonsillectomy group (P = .002). Eleven patients (0.64%) in the intracapsular tonsillectomy group required revision tonsillectomy.ConclusionIntracapsular tonsillectomy has a lower incidence of postoperative hemorrhage and pain leading to hospital-based evaluation compared with traditional electrodissection tonsillectomy.

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