A double‐blinded randomized controlled trial of coblation versus conventional dissection tonsillectomy on post‐ operative symptoms

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare postoperative symptoms following coblation tonsillectomy with those experienced following a traditional cold dissection. A prospective randomized controlled trial. Secondary otorhinolaryngology care. Ninety-two adult patients with recurrent tonsillitis meriting tonsillectomy were recruited and randomly allocated into either coblation or cold dissection tonsillectomy groups. Primary 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. No 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. The use of coblation to perform tonsillectomy does not confer any symptomatic benefits to the patient over conventional cold dissection tonsillectomy.