Postoperative Pain Scores in Thermal Welding and Conventional Tonsillectomy Techniques: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Objectives: Assess postoperative pain of the thermal welding system tonsillectomy compared to conventional tonsillectomy. Methods: A total of 342 patients aged from 8 through 39 years were enrolled in a randomized prospective controlled study. Extracapsular tonsillectomy with thermal welding and conventional system was performed randomly in each patient. Patients with chronic tonsillitis were included. Patients undergoing adenoidectomy, with suspected or confirmed tonsillar malignancy, or undergoing another procedure together with tonsillectomy were excluded from the study. Postoperative pain was measured by means of Face Pain Scale and Numerical Pain Score for each patient on 3 occasions (6-8 hours postoperative, 24 hours postoperative, and 6 days later during the first postoperative visit) for each side. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the pain scores of both procedures on all 3 occasions ( P > .001). Patients treated with thermal welding had the lowest postoperative pain score regardless of the occasion. Patients treated with the conventional technique had a significantly higher postoperative pain score on all 3 occasions. Conclusions: Thermal welding tonsillectomy is superior to the conventional technique, with less postoperative pain.