Acta oto-laryngologica
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Acta oto-laryngologica · Mar 2007
Comparative StudyA completed audit cycle on post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage rate: coblation versus standard tonsillectomy.
A significant reduction in post-tonsillectomy secondary haemorrhage rate was observed after coblation tonsillectomy was abandoned in our department. ⋯ The overall primary haemorrhage rate in the first audit cycle was 1.8% (8/441). In the second cycle with no coblation procedures, 1.4% of patients (6/416) suffered from primary haemorrhage (c.f. 8/441 (1.8%) in the first cycle, p=0.666). Secondary haemorrhage, was seen among 15.4% of patients (68/441) in the first audit cycle. In the second cycle, after coblation was discontinued, the secondary haemorrhage rate fell significantly (p<0.001) to 5.8% (24/416). A breakdown of the results of cold steel/diathermy and coblation techniques in both adults and children is also presented.