Long-term results of laser-tonsillotomy in obstructive tonsillar hyperplasia

Abstract

Carbon-dioxide-laser-tonsillotomy is reconsidered as a procedure to relieve patients in early childhood from obstructive symptoms caused by tonsillar hyperplasia such as snoring or sleep apnea without influencing the immunological function. The protruding part of the tonsils was removed by a CO (2)-laser delivering 10 - 15 W. During 1993 to 2003, 83 children received laser-tonsillotomy, combined with adenoidectomy 51 children were available for follow-up with a standard questionnaire. The parents were surveyed in average 39 months postoperatively. 5 patients required a subsequent tonsillectomy due to a recurrence of tonsillar hyperplasia. Histological investigations were done. 15 children were reevaluated by clinical examination. Most of the patients were relieved from obstructive symptoms. There was no occurrence of postoperative hemorrhage or peritonsillar abscesses. The histological investigations on the specimens from later performed tonsillectomy (n = 5) showed no evidence of scarring opened crypts. The clinical examination did not reveal any signs of chronic infections. The tonsillotomy by carbon-dioxide-laser appears as a suitable and safe technique for the treatment of tonsillar hyperplasia without severe throat infection in early childhood.