Harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy versus electrocautery tonsillectomy: a comparative pilot study

Haemostatic devices in parotid surgery: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The Harmonic Scalpel and Ligasure (Covidien) devices are commonly used in head and neck surgery. Parotidectomy is a complex and intricate surgery that requires careful dissection of the facial nerve. This study aimed to compare surgical outcomes in parotidectomy using these haemostatic devices with traditional scalpel and cautery.

METHOD

A systematic review of the literature was performed with subsequent meta-analysis of seven studies that compared the use of haemostatic devices to traditional scalpel and cautery in parotidectomy. Outcome measures included: temporary facial paresis, operating time, intra-operative blood loss, post-operative drain output and length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

A total of 7 studies representing 675 patients were identified: 372 patients were treated with haemostatic devices, and 303 patients were treated with scalpel and cautery. Statistically significant outcomes favouring the use of haemostatic devices included operating time, intra-operative blood loss and post-operative drain output. Outcome measures that did not favour either treatment included facial nerve paresis and length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSION

Overall, haemostatic devices were found to reduce operating time, intra-operative blood loss and post-operative drain output.

Risk of Postoperative Bleeding in Tonsillectomy for Peritonsillar Abscess, as Opposed to in Recurrent and Chronic Tonsillitis-A Retrospective Study

Tonsillectomy is a routine surgery in otorhinolaryngology and the occurrence of postoperative bleeding is not a rare complication. The aim of this retrospective, observational, analytic, cohort study is to compare the incidence of this complication for the most common indications. A group of patients indicated for tonsillectomies for peritonsillar abscess (group I) was compared to a group of patients indicated for chronic and recurrent tonsillitis (group II). There are a lot of pathophysiological differences in patients indicated for acute tonsillectomy for peritonsillar abscess and in patients indicated for elective tonsillectomy for chronic or recurrent tonsillitis. No technique to minimize the risk of bleeding after tonsillectomy has been found and a large part of postoperative bleeding occurs in postoperative home-care, which makes this issue topical. In total, 2842 unilateral tonsillectomies from the years 2014–2019 were included in the study. Bleeding occurred in 10.03% and, surprisingly, despite completely different conditions in the field of surgery (oedema, acute inflammation in peritonsillar abscess), there was no statistically significant difference between incidence of postoperative bleeding in the studied groups (p = 0.9920). The highest incidence of bleeding was found in the patients of group I on the eighth postoperative day, with those aged 20–24 years (p = 0.0235) being the most at risk, and in group II, on the sixth postoperative day, with those aged 25–29 years (p = 0.0128) and 45–49 years (p = 0.0249) being the most at risk.

Harmonic Scalpel Versus Coblation Tonsillectomy A Comparative Study

Tonsillectomy is an age old procedure in ENT practice. Though traditional dissection method is gold standard, we surgeons are trying different techniques like electrocautery, coblation, harmonic scalpel (HS) mainly to improve surgical convenience, to decrease operative time, post operative pain, intra and post operative bleeding and fast return to normal life. In this particular study we are comparing coblation and HS as surgical tool in tonsillectomy. It is a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial where information was compared between two groups of coblation and HS tonsillectomy. A total number of 128 patients were compared over operation time, intra-operative blood loss, postoperative pain, time needed to regain the normal diet and activity and postoperative haemorrhage. We found statistically significant differences in operation time (p < 0.001) and intra operative blood loss (p < 0.001). Secondary haemorrhage rate was far better in HS (1.5%) group compared to coblation (7.8%). Whereas postoperative pain, time needed to go back to the normal diet and activity were better in HS group but the difference is not significant. This study revealed a significantly less operative time and intra-operative and post operative blood loss in harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy in comparison with coblation method. These findings addressed HS tonsillectomy as an advanced method.

Postoperative Bleeding and Associated Utilization following Tonsillectomy in Children

Objective To assess posttonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH), associated nonoperative readmissions/revisits, and reoperations in children. Data Sources MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Review Methods Two investigators independently screened studies against predetermined criteria and extracted key data. Investigators independently assessed study risk of bias and the strength of the evidence of the body of literature. We calculated unadjusted pooled estimates of PTH frequency and conducted a Bayesian meta-analysis to estimate frequency of primary and secondary PTH and PTH-associated reoperation and revisits/readmissions by partial and total tonsillectomy and surgical approach. Results In meta-analysis, the frequency of primary and secondary PTH associated with total and partial tonsillectomy was <4% for any technique and with overlapping confidence bounds. Pooled frequencies of PTH were also <5% overall (4.2% for total tonsillectomy, 1.5% for partial tonsillectomy) in comparative studies. Fewer PTH episodes occurred with tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep-disordered breathing than for throat infection. In meta-analysis, frequency of PTH-associated nonoperative revisits/readmission or reoperation ranged from 0.2% to 5.7% for total tonsillectomy and from 0.1% to 3.7% for partial tonsillectomy. At least 4 deaths were reported in case series including 1,778,342 children. Conclusions PTH occurred in roughly 4% of tonsillectomies in studies included in this review. Although studies typically did not report bleeding severity or amount, relatively few episodes of PTH necessitated reoperation for hemostasis. Nonetheless, tonsillectomy is not without risk of harm. Frequency of PTH across techniques was similar; thus, we cannot conclude that a given technique is superior.

Neck dissection with harmonic scalpel and electrocautery? A randomised study

OBJECTIVE

Is the use of harmonic scalpel for neck dissection useful? Literature search did not show a single, prospective, randomised control trial. We intended to study the role of harmonic scalpel in neck dissection and compare it with conventional electrocautery technique for oral cavity carcinoma.

METHODS

40 patients undergoing selective neck dissection for primary oral cavity malignancy were enrolled in this study. The harmonic scalpel (HS) group consisted of 20 patients, and the electrocautery technique (ET) group comprised of 20 patients. The following variables were examined: intraoperative blood loss, operative time, number of ligatures used, postoperative drain, and postoperative hospital stay.

RESULTS

Intraoperative blood loss was found to be significantly reduced in harmonic scalpel group as compared to electrocautery group. However, we found no difference in other parameters like operative time, postop drain, postoperative hospital stay and number of ligatures used between both groups.

CONCLUSION

Harmonic scalpel for neck dissection is associated with significantly lesser intraoperative blood loss as compared to electrocautery. There is no effect on operative time and postoperative hospital stay in both groups.

Harmonic scalpel impact on blood loss and operating time in major head and neck surgery: a randomized clinical trial

Background

Long operating time and high blood loss contribute to post-surgical morbidity. Therefore, strategies to reduce these factors should to be tested using robust methods.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of using the harmonic scalpel on operating time and blood loss in patients undergoing resection for advanced oral cancer (OSCC).

Methods

Thirty-six adult head and neck cancer patients with advanced OSCC requiring primary tumor resection with uni- or bi- lateral selective neck dissection from July 2012 to September 2014 were randomized to either the control group (traditional surgery) or the experimental group (harmonic surgery). Patients older than 18 years who were able to provide informed consent were eligible. Primary outcomes of interest were: intraoperative blood loss (mL) and operative time (minutes) for the ablative part of the surgery.

Results

Mean blood loss in the experimental group was 260 mL versus 403 mL in the control group (p = 0.08). Mean operative time was 140 min in the experimental group and 159 min in the control group (p = 0.2).

Conclusions

In this randomized controlled trial, use of the harmonic scalpel did not effect intraoperative blood loss or OR time in patients undergoing surgery for advanced OSCC.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02017834.

Comparison of spinal accessory dysfunction following neck dissection with harmonic scalpel and electrocautery - A randomized study

INTRODUCTION

Harmonic scalpel is being increasingly used in neck dissection as alternative to conventional electro-cautery for achieving haemostasis. Use of harmonic scalpel has been shown to significantly reduce intra operative blood loss and intra operative time in neck dissection. But how safe is it with regards to nerve injury (spinal accessory nerve and other nerves) during neck dissection. We intended to study the spinal accessory nerve injury during neck dissection by both harmonic scalpel and electro cautery technique and compared postoperative recovery of shoulder function after neck dissection.

METHODS

40 patients undergoing selective neck dissection for primary oral malignancy were enrolled in this study. The Harmonic scalpel (HS) group consisted of 20 patients, and the electo cautery technique (ET) group had 20 patients. The following variables were examined: shoulder pain by visual analog scoring and shoulder function by means of degree of abduction and graded was grade I-0-90°; grade II-90-135°; grade III-135-180°. They assessment was done at the time of discharge, 1month and 3month and six month after surgery.

RESULTS

Though shoulder pain was almost similar at 1st week and 1month, however at 2nd and 6th month shoulder pain was found to be significantly lesser in harmonic scalpel group as compared to electro cautery. At 1week more no of patients had restricted shoulder mobility in HS as compared to EC group. But at 6months the shoulder function was found to be significantly better in HS group as compared to EC group (p value<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Spinal accessory nerve function recovery after selective neck dissection is better in HS group as compared to the electro cautery group.

The Use of Harmonic Scalpel in Open Thyroid Surgery: Is It Rewarding?

The advantages and effectiveness of the harmonic scalpel (HS) in open thyroid surgery were evaluated. Haemostasis is the most important factor for successful thyroid surgery. Our aim was to compare the effect of the use of harmonic scalpel versus the conventional haemostasis (CH) methods during open thyroidectomy in the intra-operative and postoperative outcomes. A retrospective review of all total thyroidectomy operations performed in six years was done. The patients were divided in two groups: the CH group and the HS group according to the method used. Information regarding patient's age and sex, pathological diagnosis, operations details, operations duration, the blood loss, the use of drains, and the complications were recorded. Out of 239 operations performed, 143 operations were in the CH group and 96 operations were in the HS group. The average duration of operation was 73 minutes in the HS group versus 97 minutes in the CH group (P &lt; 0.005). Blood loss was less in the HS group (P = 0.014), with fewer drains (P &lt; 0.005). Transient hypocalcaemia (TH) was less in the HS group (12.5% vs. 25.9%, P = 0.012). The hospital stay was less in the HS group (3.4 days vs. 3.9 days, P = 0.001). The use of HS was more costly. HS use in thyroid surgery reduces: operation time, blood loss, use of drains, postoperative TH, and shortens hospital stay. It is more costly but the advantages of its use in a busy hospital offset this drawback.

Harmonic Scalpel Tonsillectomy: A Systematic Review of Evidence for Postoperative Hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the literature on harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy with a view of comparing its postoperative hemorrhagic rate with the conventional methods for tonsillectomy.

DATA SOURCES: Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, INAHTA, CRD (Centre for Review and Dissemination, York, UK), and related databases. The date of the last search was September 19, 2006; papers were considered irrespective of language of publication.

REVIEW METHODS: Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied independently by two reviewers with a third reviewer available for adjudication. The papers were quality assessed using Chalmers' criteria. Eleven randomized controlled trials (RCT) were included in the final review with five RCTs comparing harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy with “cold steel” tonsillectomy and six RCTs comparing harmonic scalpel with “hot” tonsillectomy techniques.

RESULTS: All studies were underpowered to detect a significant difference in the postoperative hemorrhagic complication between harmonic scalpel and the comparator tonsillectomy techniques. The heterogeneity of studies made quantitative combination of results impossible.

CONCLUSION: The evidence reviewed is of low quality and does not support any significant difference in postoperative hemorrhage rates when harmonic scalpel is compared with other tonsillectomy techniques. As studies have numerous methodological flaws and incorporate biases and confounding factors, these results need to be interpreted with caution. Larger and better-conducted studies would be needed in order to compare the safety of harmonic against conventional tonsillectomy methods. The need for a large sample size might make an RCT impractical; therefore a large, well-controlled cohort study could be more suitable.

Harmonic Scalpel versus Cold Knife Dissection in Superficial Parotidectomy

OBJECTIVES: Use of the Harmonic Scalpel has recently been described in thyroid surgery, in which it appears to result in decreased operative time and blood loss without increasing the incidence of nerve injury when compared to conventional techniques of vessel ligation and tissue division. We sought to determine whether the use of the Harmonic Scalpel in superficial parotidectomy was associated with a difference in operative time, blood loss, or facial nerve injury compared with conventional techniques.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: The medical records of all patients who underwent superficial parotidectomy for benign parotid pathology at the Medical College of Georgia and Veterans Affairs Hospital of Augusta, Georgia, from 1999 to 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were excluded if they had a history of a bleeding disorder, prior facial nerve weakness, prior parotid surgery, malignant pathology, or required total parotidectomy.

RESULTS: Forty-two patients were eligible for inclusion. Nineteen patients underwent Harmonic Scalpel parotidectomy (HS) and 21 patients underwent conventional parotidectomy (control group). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to demographic data, pathology, or tumor size. Use of the Harmonic Scalpel was associated with a significant reduction in length of surgery (167.5 ± 42.6 min vs. 195.5 ± 37.4 min for controls, P = 0.03) and intraoperative blood loss (37.5 ± 25.8 mL vs. 60.0 ± 37.1 mL for controls, P = 0.03). There were no significant differences between the HS or control groups with respect to postoperative drain output (48.7 ± 33.8 mL vs. 48.0 ± 22.9 mL, respectively, P > 0.05) or facial nerve function.

CONCLUSION: Use of the Harmonic Scalpel for superficial parotidectomy is safe and may result in reduced operative time and blood loss compared with conventional techniques.

SIGNIFICANCE: A safe alternative to cold knife superficial parotidectomy is presented with the potential benefits of reduced operative time and blood loss demonstrated.

Post-Tonsillectomy Morbidity and Quality of Life in Pediatric Patients with Obstructive Tonsils and Adenoid: Microdebrider vs Electrocautery

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively compare outcomes in children over age 2 with obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy when tonsillectomy is performed utilizing an intracapsular microdebrider technique versus low-wattage electrocautery technique.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial at a tertiary care children's hospital.

RESULTS: Among the 300 children, those treated with the microdebrider resumed normal activity faster, with a median recovery of 2.5 days, and stopped taking pain medication sooner, with the median time to the last dose of 4 days. The microdebrider group were 3 times more likely to no longer need pain medications at 3 days postoperatively and 2.5 times less likely to be still needing pain medication 7 days postoperatively. They were twice as likely to be at a normal activity level by 3 days postoperatively and were less likely to still not have attained normal activity and normal diet after 7 days. There was no difference between groups in median days to return to normal diet (3.0 to 3.5 days). At 1-month follow-up, children in the microdebrider group were 5 times more likely to have residual tonsil tissue.

CONCLUSIONS: Intracapsular tonsillectomy in children with obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy results in improved peri-operative outcomes. Residual tonsil tissue is more common with use of the microdebrider; however, the incidence of future obstruction or infection is unknown.

EBM rating: A-1b

A randomised controlled trial of coblation, diode laser and cold dissection in paediatric tonsillectomy

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of diode laser, coblation and cold dissection tonsillectomy in paediatric patients.

METHODS

A total of 120 patients aged 10-15 years with recurrent tonsillitis were recruited. Participants were prospectively randomised to diode laser, coblation or cold dissection tonsillectomy. Operative time and blood loss were recorded. Pain was recorded on a Wong-Baker FACES(®) pain scale.

RESULTS

The operative time (10 ± 0.99 minutes), blood loss (20 ± 0.85 ml) and pain were significantly lower with coblation tonsillectomy than with cold dissection tonsillectomy (20 ± 1.0 minutes and 30 ± 1.0 ml; p = 0.0001) and diode laser tonsillectomy (15 ± 0.83 minutes and 25 ± 0.83 ml; p = 0.0001). Diode laser tonsillectomy had a shorter operative time (p = 0.0001) and less blood loss (p = 0.001) compared with cold dissection tonsillectomy. However, at post-operative day seven, the diode laser tonsillectomy group had significantly higher pain scores compared with the cold dissection (p = 0.042) and coblation (p = 0.04) tonsillectomy groups.

CONCLUSION

Both coblation and diode laser tonsillectomy are associated with significantly reduced blood loss and shorter operative times compared with cold dissection tonsillectomy. However, we advocate coblation tonsillectomy because of the lower post-operative pain scores compared with diode laser and cold dissection tonsillectomy.

Silicon micromachined ultrasonic scalpel for the dissection and coagulation of tissue

This work presents a planar, longitudinal mode ultrasonic scalpel microfabricated from monocrystalline silicon wafers. Silicon was selected as the material for the ultrasonic horn due to its high speed of sound and thermal conductivity as well as its low density compared to commonly used titanium based alloys. Combined with a relatively high Young's modulus, a lighter, more efficient design for the ultrasonic scalpel can be implemented which, due to silicon batch manufacturing, can be fabricated at a lower cost. Transverse displacement of the piezoelectric actuators is coupled into the planar silicon structure and amplified by its horn-like geometry. Using finite element modeling and experimental displacement and velocity data as well as cutting tests, key design parameters have been identified that directly influence the power efficiency and robustness of the device as well as its ease of controllability when driven in resonance. Designs in which the full- and half-wave transverse modes of the transducer are matched or not matched to the natural frequencies of the piezoelectric actuators have been evaluated. The performance of the Si micromachined scalpels has been found to be comparable to existing commercial titanium based ultrasonic scalpels used in surgical operations for efficient dissection of tissue as well as coaptation and coagulation of tissue for hemostasis. Tip displacements (peak-to-peak) of the scalpels in the range of 10-50 μm with velocities ranging from 4 to 11 m/s have been achieved. The frequency of operation is in the range of 50-100 kHz depending on the transverse operating mode and the length of the scalpel. The cutting ability of the micromachined scalpels has been successfully demonstrated on chicken tissue.

Harmonic scalpel assisted superficial parotidectomy

OBJECTIVE

The Harmonic Scalpel (HS) has been recently widely used to perform a variety of surgical procedures. We reviewed our experience with the use of HS in superficial parotidectomy to determine the safety and efficacy of this procedure, with regard to operative time, postoperative facial nerve function, and drainage output.

STUDY DESIGN

Nonrandomized retrospective review.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The medical records of all patients who underwent superficial parotidectomy for benign pathology at Shaare Zedek Medical Center from January 2006 to July 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with prior facial nerve weakness or prior parotid surgery or who had undergone concurrent neck dissection or total parotidectomy were excluded.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight patients were reviewed; 26 patients underwent HS parotidectomy and 32 patients underwent conventional (cold knife) parotidectomy (control group). Harmonic Scalpel assisted parotidectomy was associated with significantly decreased length of surgery from 163.12 ± 21.8 minutes for controls to 137.3 ± 18.6 minutes in the HS assisted group (P < .05). The incidence of temporary postoperative facial nerve paresis was significantly reduced from 43% in the controls to 23% in the HS group (P < .05). No permanent facial nerve paralysis was reported. There were differences in the overall postoperative drain output between the HS and control groups, 68 ± 22.3 mL and 73.5 ± 38.2 mL, respectively, but these differences did not achieve significance.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that HS assisted superficial parotidectomy for benign pathology is a safe technique and associated with reduced surgical time and incidence of temporary postoperative facial nerve paresis compared with conventional techniques.

Paediatric day case tonsillectomy: a safe, feasible and an economical way to treat patients – Yorkhill experience

Introduction

Day case surgery is widely encouraged as it has many benefits. In this study, we evaluate the feasibility of paediatric tonsillectomies as day case surgery procedures in a tertiary paediatric centre.

Methods

The outcome of paediatric tonsillectomy performed as day case procedures was studied for four months. We recorded complication rates in comparison to the standard in-patient practice.

Results

23 paediatric patients were included in this study. The age of the patients ranged from four to 11 years, with mean age of 6.5. No patients suffered post-operative complications within the first 24 h. Two patients were re-admitted due to a post-operative complication (8.6%) and one patient for a non-operative cause (4.3%) beyond the initial 24 h.

Conclusion

Paediatric Day Case Paediatric Tonsillectomy is a safe, feasible and an economical way to manage patients. It should be practised as a day case where appropriate and when criteria are met.

Harmonic scalpel versus conventional haemostasis in neck dissection: a prospective randomized study

PURPOSE

The aim of this prospective randomized trial was to compare operative factors, postoperative outcomes, and surgical complications of neck dissection (ND) when using the harmonic scalpel (HS) versus conventional haemostasis (CH) (classic technique of tying and knots, resorbable ligature, and bipolar diathermy).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty-one patients who underwent ND with primary head and neck cancer (HNSCC) resection were enrolled in this study and were randomized into two homogeneous groups: CH (conventional haemostasis with classic technique of tying and knots, resorbable ligature, and bipolar diathermy) and HS (haemostasis with harmonic scalpel). Outcomes of the study included operative time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage volume, postoperative pain, hospital stay, and incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications.

RESULTS

The use of the HS reduced significantly the operating time, the intraoperative blood loss, the postoperative pain, and the volume of drainage. No significant difference was observed in mean hospital stay and perioperative, and postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION

The HS is a reliable and safe tool for reducing intraoperative blood loss, operative time, volume of drainage and postoperative pain in patients undergoing ND for HNSCC. Multicenter randomized studies need to be done to confirm the advantages of this technique and to evaluate the cost-benefit ratio.

Postoperative quality of life after two different methods of tonsillectomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Tonsillectomy is a very painful procedure. Pain may be severe, and patients are often unable to perform in school or eat regular food for a number of days after the surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life after undergoing two different surgical techniques of tonsillectomy, harmonic scalpel and classic tonsillectomy with bipolar cauterization.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Prospective randomized double-blind, clinical trial study conducted in the ENT Department, Dr. Josip Benčević General Hospital, Slavonski Brod, Croatia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data were collected, according to the type of operation, on pain persistence and intensity and returning to normal eating with tonsillectomy patients during the first seven postoperative days. Group A consisted of 50 children submitted to classic tonsillectomy with bipolar cauterization, while group B included 50 children operated on using the harmonic scalpel. Data on pain intensity were obtained using pain measuring scales adjusted to children's age (Faces scales, visual analog scale). The first day of normal oral food intake was recorded.

RESULTS

The analysis of variance revealed that the grade of pain significantly differs by a surgical technique employed, and that it significantly varied over the first seven postoperative days. The pain was more severe after undergoing the harmonic scalpel technique and children started to eat later compared with the classic tonsillectomy.

CONCLUSION

The classic tonsillectomy method with bipolar cauterization is the method of choice due to lower postoperative pain levels and sooner normal eating. The quality of life is better after undergoing the classic tonsillectomy method.

Neck dissection with the harmonic scalpel in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

Our purpose was to evaluate the use of the Harmonic scalpel in neck dissections.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted a randomized prospective intervention study to compare the Harmonic scalpel (32 patients) with the conventional technique (31 patients).

RESULTS

Operative time was lowered by 64 min (p < 0.001) and 7.5 min (p = 0.367); blood lost during surgery was lowered by 80.5 ml (p < 0.001) and 76.6 ml (p < 0.001); the length of time the drains were kept in place was lowered by 1.3 days (p < 0.001) and 1.5 days (p < 0.01); and the volume of drainage was lower by 228.7 ml (p < 0.001) and 187.6 ml (p < 0.01) in selective and comprehensive neck dissections respectively in patients treated with the Harmonic scalpel.

CONCLUSIONS

The Harmonic scalpel shortens operative time in selective dissections. It reduces blood loss during surgery; time drains are kept in place and the amount of drainage in comprehensive and selective neck dissections.

Focus harmonic scalpel compared to conventional haemostasis in open total thyroidectomy: a prospective randomized trial

The aim of this prospective randomized trial was to compare operative factors, postoperative outcomes and surgical complications of open total thyroidectomy when using the Harmonic Scalpel (HS) versus Conventional Haemostasis (CH). Methods. 100 consecutive patients underwent open total thyroidectomy were randomized into two groups: group CH (Conventional Haemostasis) and group HS (Harmonic Scalpel). We recorded the following: age, sex, pathology, thyroid volume, haemostatic technique, operative time, drainage volume, thyroid weight, postoperative pain, postoperative complications, and hospital stay. The results were analyzed using the Student's t test and χ² test. Results. No significant difference was found between the two groups concerning mean thyroid weight and mean hospital stay. The mean operative time was significantly shorter in the HS group. The total drainage fluid volume was lower in HS group. Two (4%) transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsies were observed in CH group and no one (0%) in the HS group. Postoperative transient hypocalcemia occurred more frequently in the CH group. HS group experienced significantly less postoperative pain at 24 and 48 hours. Conclusions. In patients undergoing thyroidectomy, HS is a reliable and safe tool. Comparing with CH techniques, its use reduces operative times, postoperative pain, drainage volume and transient hypocalcemia.

Tonsillectomy in children: a five-factor analysis among three techniques--reporting upon clinical results, anesthesia time, surgery time, bleeding, and cost

OBJECTIVES

Improved technology claims better clinical results for adenotonsillectomy (T&A) in children, and promoters of each technique announce many virtues over one another, year after year. However, cost remains one variable that is not always thoroughly addressed. In this study, monopolar cautery (MPC) T&A was compared with coblation (CAT) and molecular resonance (MR) techniques in a pediatric population.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective analysis of 96 patients (32 for each surgical modality: MPC, MR, or CAT).

SETTING

Tertiary care pediatric institution.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Clinical results, anesthesia and surgery time, bleeding, and cost among these three established techniques were compared. P-values of P < .05 were considered significant for all comparisons.

RESULTS

The CAT and MPC had similar operative times (mean 19.2 and 21.1 minutes, respectively, P = NS), whereas the MR group had overall saving of 7.8 minutes in surgery (P < .05). In terms of cost of technology, the cost of the MPC and MR groups was 90.6% and 83.7% less than the CAT group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that MR technique of T&A enabled the surgical team to save a significant amount of time, whereas CAT added substantial costs, compared to MR and standard cautery techniques.

Evaluating Postoperative Pain in Monopolar Cautery Versus Harmonic Scalpel Tonsillectomy

OBJECTIVES: To compare postoperative pain between monopolar cautery tonsillectomy and harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy (HST).

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial using paired organs.

SETTING: Community hospital with academic affiliation.

SUBJECTS: One hundred and fourteen consecutive patients six years of age or older undergoing tonsillectomy for indications of hypertrophy or recurrent infection.

METHODS: For each subject, monopolar cautery tonsillectomy was performed by four senior surgeons on one side and HST was performed on the other side. Allocation of technique to side was randomized and revealed to the surgeon at the start of the operation. Validated visual analog pain scales were used to quantify pain at rest and with swallowing for each side and were completed daily for 14 days. All subjects were prescribed weight-equivalent doses of analgesics. Secondary outcome measures included postoperative complications (hemorrhage and readmission).

RESULTS: Pairwise comparisons of pain scores revealed no significant difference between monopolar cautery tonsillectomy and HST ( P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Subjects undergoing monopolar cautery tonsillectomy do not experience increased postoperative pain in comparison to HST.

Making sense out of the tonsillectomy literature

BACKGROUND

With the increase in new technology and changing indications for tonsillectomy, the literature has exploded during the last 20 years with scores of publications reporting the relative effectiveness of many different techniques. Despite this "wealth of information," no single technique has been adopted by most surgeons.

OBJECTIVES

To systematically analyze the usefulness of this literature of the past 20 years concerning tonsillectomy technique in children. To propose the use of specific study parameters that could optimize clinical decision-making and future research.

METHODS

Detailed review of the methodologies and findings in articles which compared one or more tonsillectomy techniques in clinical trials of children, ages 1-23 years from 1987 through 2007.

RESULTS

The Medline search revealed 255 papers of which 89 studies were suitable for inclusion in our review. In these 89 studies (found in 87 papers), 9 dissection techniques, 3 planes of dissection, 8 methods of hemostasis, and 41 different outcome measures were reported. Forty-four (49%) were described as randomized, 63 (71%) prospective, 25 retrospective (28%), 1 case report, 1 matched pair, and 9 case series papers. Sixteen (18%) trials were non-blind, 23 (26%) were single blind, 17 (19%) were double blind, and 7 (8%) were not stated. Seventy-five (84%) were comparative and 14 (16%) non-comparative. Eight (9%) studies reported power analyses. Twelve (13%) had no follow-up; 67 (75%) of the studies performed had short-term follow-up in the peri-operative period; 10 (11%) had follow-up for greater than 1 year. Eleven (12%) mentioned outcomes related to the effectiveness of the procedure itself in relieving symptoms for which the surgery was done.

CONCLUSIONS

Tonsillectomy technique research is of obvious interest to the otolaryngologist. We found deficits in: the precise reporting of surgical techniques, adequate study design and useful outcome measures, all of which make the literature less useful than it could be. Guidelines for study design parameters which could lead to more valuable information for the clinician are suggested.

Molecular resonance vs. coblation tonsillectomy in children

BACKGROUND

Quantum molecular resonance coagulation is an innovative technology that uses molecular resonance to cut and coagulate precisely, cleanly, and hemostatically at low tissue temperature levels. This technology offers a new possibility for tonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVES

To compare molecular resonance (MRT) with coblation (CAT) devices for pediatric tonsillectomy.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective, two-group, randomized trial in a tertiary care pediatric institution. One hundred fifty-seven children for whom tonsillectomy was indicated were randomly assigned to receive MRT (n = 79) or CAT (n = 78). Main outcome measures included intraoperative time, blood loss, postoperative pain, and weight loss. Histopathologic examination was performed on all excised tonsils. Patients, parents, and pathologist were blinded to surgical modality.

RESULTS

Histopathologic evaluation revealed significantly reduced thermal injury with MRT than with CAT (43 microns vs. 126, respectively, P < .001), and was statistically associated with reduced muscular, blood vessel, and nerve fiber damage. No intraoperative blood loss was observed in patients following MRT. Statistically significant reduced pain scores were related to the MRT (P < .002). In addition, the MRT method showed a quick return to normal diet with even weight gain during the 10-day postoperative period. One child in the CAT group experienced delayed bleeding and required readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

Molecular resonance for pediatric tonsillectomy resulted in significantly reduced histopathologic thermal injury and lower pain scores compared with coblation. Further studies are advised to support these data.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with an ultrasound scalpel or laser: is there a difference?

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is used for treatment of the obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, mainly in the lower range of the apnoea-hypopnea index or partial upper airway obstruction. Significant severe pain after UPPP is associated in the area having surgery and therefore less pain causing methods should be investigated. In this study, we compared laser-assisted and ultrasound scalpel-performed UPPP. Sleep apnoea patients (n = 40) recruited to the study were divided into two groups. UPPP was performed with either laser-assisted or an ultrasound scalpel. Perioperative bleeding, operating room time and duration of operation together with histological injury of soft palate were analysed. A postoperative follow-up questionnaire included a self analysis of pain, dietary intake and pain drug consumption. In the same follow-up form, filled in by patients themselves, possible side effects and adequacy of pain medication together with any postoperative haemorrhage events were recorded during 10-day study period after UPPP. The ultrasound scalpel group had significantly fewer haemorrhagic events (P = 0.037) during postoperative follow-up time after UPPP when compared to laser-assisted group. The pain values of all 40 patients were significantly higher in the morning than in the afternoon (P < 0.001) or evening (P < 0.001). Pain increased up to the fifth postoperative day (visual analogue scale, VAS = 46). The significant relief of pain to the mild level (VAS < 30 mm) occurred at ninth and tenth postoperative day. The ultrasound scalpel used as a surgical method in UPPP did not offer significant comprehensive benefits in this study compared to laser-assisted UPPP. Exclusively, postoperative haemorrhage events were minor, paralleling findings of previous studies where ultrasound scalpel had been used for tonsillectomy. We conclude that the ultrasound scalpel is comparable to laser-assisted UPPP.

[Harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy--personal experience and review of literature]

INTRODUCTION

The harmonic scalpel has been used in tonsil surgery for several years. The comparison of harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy with other tonsillectomy techniques has been the subject of many studies. The research results proved to be contradictory, particularly concerning postoperative complications and complaints. Most authors observed reduced intraoperative bleeding during harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVE

Analysis of harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy results and review of literature. Material and methods. The harmonic scalpel was used for 71 tonsillectomies in the Department of Otolaryngology UJ CM between 2002-2007. The surgical procedure and postoperative results were analyzed retrospectively and compared with other tonsillectomy techniques.

RESULTS

The harmonic scalpel provided sufficient intraoperative hemostasis in 67% of cases. 33% of patients required electrocautery, vessel ligation in the operation field or suturing of the marginal tissue to control bleeding. Postoperative hemorrhage requiring surgical intervention occurred in 3 patients. No other severe postoperative complications were observed in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

Harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy is an effective and safe alternative technique in tonsil surgery. In some cases however other hemostasis techniques may be necessary to control intense bleeding.

Harmonic Scalpel Tonsillectomy versus Monopolar Diathermy Tonsillectomy: A Prospective Study

For tonsillectomy, the ultrasonic harmonic scalpel has been purported to cause less tissue injury and postoperative morbidity while providing adequate levels of hemostasis. We undertook a prospective study to compare outcomes in 162 patients who had undergone harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy and 40 patients who had undergone monopolar diathermy tonsillectomy over a 33-month period. We found that patients in the harmonic scalpel group experienced significantly less intraoperative bleeding (5.0 vs. 16.5 ml; p < 0.0001). There was no clinically significant difference between the groups with respect to (1) the amount of operating time, (2) the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, dysphonia, and primary or secondary bleeding, and (3) the amount of time patients needed to resume normal diet and activities.

Safety and Efficacy of Pressure-assisted Tissue-welding Tonsillectomy: A Preliminary Evaluation

We conducted a retrospective study of the safety and efficacy of a new pressure-assisted tissue-welding technology (ENTceps; Starion Instruments Corp.; Sunnyvale, Calif.) for total tonsillectomy, either alone or with adenoidectomy. The use of this instrument was compared in two groups of patients categorized by age. The younger group was made up of 50 patients aged 2 to 12 years who had undergone total tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A), and the older group was made up of 50 patients aged 13 to 47 years who had undergone either T&A or isolated total tonsillectomy. The primary safety endpoint was the presence or absence of intra- or postoperative complications—particularly the amount of intraoperative blood loss and the incidence of delayed postoperative bleeding. In each group, the mean amount of intraoperative blood loss was no more than 30 ml, and only 2 of the 100 patients experienced postoperative hemorrhage. Among the efficacy parameters were the amount of operating and recovery time and the postoperative appearance of the tonsillar fossae. The mean operating time was 13.0 minutes in the younger group and 19.5 minutes in the older group, and the mean total recovery times were 120.0 and 130.4 minutes, respectively; all tonsillar fossae were well epithelialized by 2 weeks after surgery. Finally, surgical morbidity was determined on the basis of the amount of perioperative pain medication administered, the number of unscheduled patient telephone contacts and clinic visits, and the amount of time needed to return to a normal diet and activities. Nine patients in the younger group and 6 in the older group required no pain medications during recovery; overall, pain was not a significant issue for most patients. Sixteen patients made a total of 20 telephone calls and 8 clinic visits prior to their scheduled postoperative appointment; almost all of these encounters dealt with postoperative pain. Only 1 patient, who had previously undiagnosed von Willebrand disease, had not returned to a normal diet and activities by the end of 1 week. Based on our preliminary findings—and a comparison of our results with those of other studies published in the literature relative to the amount of intraoperative bleeding, the incidence of postoperative bleeding, and operating times—we conclude that pressure-assisted tissue-welding technology is safe and compares favorably with other tonsillectomy techniques. This method of electrocautery is straightforward and relatively easy to learn.

Harmonic Scalpel Tonsillectomy Using the Curved Shears Instrument versus Cold Dissection Tonsillectomy: A Retrospective Study

Objectives:

We compared operating time, intraoperative blood loss, and rate of postoperative bleeding in harmonic scalpel (HS) tonsillectomy using the curved shears instrument to those in cold dissection (CD) tonsillectomy.

Methods:

The charts of 560 patients who underwent tonsillectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Three hundred nineteen patients underwent CD tonsillectomy between the years 1998 and 1999, and 241 patients underwent HS tonsillectomy using the curved shears instrument between the years 2001 and 2005. For the purpose of evaluation of postoperative bleeding rates, the groups were further stratified by age (11 years of age or less versus 12 years of age or more).

Results:

For the HS group, the mean operating time was shorter (7 minutes versus 17.57 minutes) and the intraoperative blood loss was lower (0 mL versus 42.12 mL). These differences were statistically significant (p < .05). There was no significant difference in the overall postoperative bleeding rates between the two groups. The postoperative bleeding rate in the HS patients 11 years of age or younger was lower than that in the equivalent age group in the CD group (0.56% versus 2%, respectively), although this difference did not reach statistical significance. The postoperative bleeding rate in the HS patients 12 years of age or older was significantly higher than that in the equivalent age group in the CD group (7.93% versus 1%, respectively; p < .05).

Conclusions:

Harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy using the curved shears instrument offers advantages over CD tonsillectomy regarding operating time and intraoperative blood loss. In our patients more than 12 years of age, HS tonsillectomy using the curved shears instrument was associated with an increased postoperative bleeding rate compared to CD tonsillectomy.

Comparison of LigaSure vessel sealing system, harmonic scalpel, and cold knife tonsillectomy

OBJECTIVE

We sought to compare LigaSure Vessel Sealing System tonsillectomy (LT), Harmonic Scalpel tonsillectomy (HST), and cold knife tonsillectomy (CKT).

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a prospective study on 161 adult patients undergoing tonsillectomy. Subjects were randomized to LT, HST, or CKT groups, and intraoperative bleeding, operative time, postoperative pain, and complication rates were assessed.

RESULTS

The LT, HST, and CKT groups consisted of 50, 43, and 37 individuals, respectively. Intraoperative bleeding was significantly lower in the LT group, whereas bleeding in the HST group was significantly lower than that in the CKT group. Operative time and postoperative pain were significantly lower in the LT and HST groups. One primary hemorrhage occurred in the HST group, and one occurred in he CKT group. Secondary hemorrhage occurred in one, two, and one patients in the LT, HST, and CKT groups, respectively.

CONCLUSION

LT and HST have shown comparable results regarding intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hemorrhage, and pain. Compared with CKT, both were associated with less intraoperative blood loss and pain.

Microdebrider-assisted partial tonsillectomy: short- and long-term outcomes

Microdebrider-assisted partial tonsillectomy has gained popularity in recent years. However, no prospective long-term follow-up exists in the literature and the risk of increase in tonsillitis is still a concern. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled study to assess the short-term benefits of microdebrider-assisted partial tonsillectomy (group 1) compared to electrocautery-assisted total tonsillectomy (group 2), to monitor the durability of the improvement and watch for any change in the rate of tonsillitis. Patients with symptomatic tonsillar hyperplasia were included and underwent either technique of tonsillar surgery. Duration of operation, amount of intra-operative blood loss, immediate and late complications, postoperative pain, return to normal activity and diet, and relief of obstructive symptoms were measured. Recurrence of symptoms and change in rate of tonsillitis in group 1 were monitored. We studied 143 patients, 77 in group 1 and 66 in group 2. There was no significant difference in the surgical time (P>0.05) or postoperative bleeding (P>0.05) but more blood loss in group 1 (P<0.05) and more dehydration in group 2 (P<0.05) were encountered. All patients had complete relief of symptoms. Group 1 returned earlier to normal activity (2.19 vs. 5.71 days; P<0.05), to normal diet (5.28 vs. 8.16 days; P<0.05) and needed less frequent analgesics (2.14 vs. 6.1 days; P<0.05). More than two-thirds of group 1 and less than one-third of group 2 were pain free after day 3. Most group 1 parents (96.1%) were highly satisfied, at initial follow-up, regarding the decision to perform the surgery in contrast to group 2 parents (19.7%). No recurrence of symptoms and no increase in rate of tonsillitis were noticed among group 1 after 20 months mean follow-up (median 20.6, range 1-36.2 months). Group 1 showed short-term benefits over group 2 and maintained the resultant improvement on the long-term with no infectious drawbacks.

A prospective randomised single blinded study comparing harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy with bipolar tonsillectomy

OBJECTIVE

To compare the differences in pain, analgesic use and bleeding in children after tonsillectomy using either a harmonic scalpel or a bipolar diathermy surgical technique.

METHODS

Children 6-15 years presenting for tonsillectomy were randomised to either a harmonic scalpel or bipolar diathermy surgical technique. Post-operative pain scores (VAS, 0-10) were recorded within 30 min of surgery and again at the 4h hospital discharge. A subsequent telephone interview daily for 7 days and then every second day until day 13 was used to monitor pain scores, analgesic use and tonsil bed bleeding.

RESULTS

There were 204 children studied. The response rate over the first 7 days was 93% for the children in the harmonic scalpel group and 87% for the bipolar group. Children experienced moderate post-operative pain for the first 6 days, after which pain declined from 4-7 to reach a score of 1-2 by day 11. Children undergoing harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy (n=103) reported higher mean pain scores than those who underwent bipolar diathermy (n=101) for current pain (4.7 versus 4.2, p=0.002), worst pain of the day (6.9 versus 6.2, p<0.001) and pain on swallowing (5.9 versus 5.2, p<0.001) over the first 6 post-operative days. Analgesic use (acetaminophen, ibuprofen) was similar in both groups. Hospital readmission for bleeding in children who underwent harmonic scalpel was similar to those who underwent bipolar diathermy tonsillectomy (9% versus 11%) as was bleeding requiring surgical re-exploration (4% versus 2%).

CONCLUSIONS

Tonsillectomy was associated with considerable pain for the first 6 post-operative days. Children undergoing harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy had a slight increase in pain compared to the bipolar diathermy group during this time. Both methods of tonsillectomy are effective and safe.

Posterior atlantoaxial three-point fixation: comparison of intraoperative performance between open and percutaneous techniques

INTRODUCTION

Atlantoaxial instabilities, which require surgical fixation follow a variety of clinical disorders. Different surgical procedures are used for stabilization of the atlantoaxial complex, mainly posterior wiring techniques and transarticular screw fixation. Nowadays, often a combination of transarticular screws and a posterior one-point fixation is used to achieve a three-point fixation, with superior biomechanical stability and good clinical results. Different modifications were developed to improve this technique. In 1995, a percutaneous approach for atlantoaxial stabilization was introduced. In clinical studies, the technique showed a tendency towards better outcome. Beside the outcome, the intraoperative performance is of special interest for minimal invasive approaches. We therefore compared the operation time, screw angulation and blood loss, between the open and percutaneous posterior atlantoaxial techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two groups, each consisting of 17 patients, with either open (group 1) or percutaneous (group 2) atlantoxial stabilization, were compared. The operation time was retrospectively acquired from the patient's charts. The data for blood loss was provided by our anaesthesiological department, separated for intraoperative, postoperative and total blood loss. Screw angulation was measured on the postoperative x-ray by an orthopaedic surgeon.

RESULTS

The percutaneous group showed an average intraoperative blood loss of 239.7 ml, compared to 929.4 ml for the open group (p< or =0.001). The analogue values for the postoperative blood loss were 142.9 ml and 379.4 ml for group 2 and group 1, respectively (p=0.008). Consecutively, the total blood loss showed also a statistically significant difference (p< or =0.001). The operation time was significantly different (p< or =0.001), with average values of 175.3 min (group 1) and 110.6 min (group 2). Screw angulation showed a trend towards a steeper angulation in the percutaneous group with an average angle of 56.8 degrees , compared to 53.9 degrees (group 1), although this was not statistically significant (p=0.053).

CONCLUSION

The percutaneous technique for atlantoaxial stabilization with a three-point fixation has clear intraoperative benefits, with shorter operation time and reduced blood loss. A trend towards steeper screw angulation was found and shows at least equal feasibility for transarticular screw placement with the percutaneous technique, compared to the standard open approach.

A prospective randomized single-blind trial comparing ultrasonic scalpel tonsillectomy with tonsillectomy by blunt dissection in a pediatric age group

OBJECTIVE

To determine if there was a difference in postoperative pain and dietary intake when comparing ultrasonic scalpel (US) with blunt dissection tonsillectomy (BD) in children.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

A prospective single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing US and BD tonsillectomy in children aged between 5 and 13 years who undergo tonsillectomy for recurrent acute tonsillitis in a specialized pediatric hospital.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-two children were enrolled. Ninety-three (76%) patients completed dietary and pain scales. Pain was significantly greater in the US group on postoperative days 1 and 3 (P = 0.0466, P = 0.0084) and overall (P = 0.0003). Dietary intake scores were significantly better in the US group on days 1, 5, 7, and 9, however, these scores were inconsistent with dietary intake scores declining in both groups throughout the study. Blood loss was statistically significantly greater in the BD group (33.1 ml vs 3.0 ml, P < 0.0001). There were no significant differences for all other observed outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

US tonsillectomy causes significantly more pain overall and on postoperative days 1 and 3 when compared to BD tonsillectomy. US tonsillectomy causes less intraoperative blood loss, the clinical significance of which is questionable.

SIGNIFICANCE

US tonsillectomy appears to cause more postoperative pain than BD tonsillectomy in children aged 5 to 13 years undergoing tonsillectomy for recurrent acute tonsillitis.

Comparison of posttonsillectomy pain using the ultrasonic scalpel, coblator, and electrocautery

OBJECTIVE

To compare postoperative tonsillectomy pain between 3 commonly used surgical devices: the Harmonic Ultrasonic Scalpel (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH), the Coblator (ArthroCare Corp, Sunnyvale, CA), and electrocautery.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

A prospective, randomized trial. One hundred thirty-four patients were randomly assigned to receive a tonsillectomy with 1 of 3 surgical devices. All patients were asked to fill out a postoperative diary.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences in pain scores were revealed between the Coblator and electrocautery (P = 0.02) and between the Coblator and the Ultrasonic Scalpel (P = 0.003), with the Coblator having lower pain scores. Electrocautery and the Ultrasonic Scalpel did not differ significantly from each other. The Coblation method showed a strong trend toward quicker return to normal diet.

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing tonsillectomy with the Coblator device reported less pain over a 10-day period than patients undergoing tonsillectomy with electrocautery or the Ultrasonic Scalpel. Pain after tonsillectomy remains a major issue for our patients. The choice of surgical instrument appears to be one way to reduce this pain.

EBM RATING

A-1b.

Laparoscopic splenectomy: present status and future perspective

Laparoscopic splenectomy has become widely accepted as the approach of choice for the surgical treatment of benign and malignant hematologic diseases. Advances in technology have led to better outcomes for the procedure, and have allowed surgeons to apply the technique to disease processes that were at one time felt to be contraindications to laparoscopic splenectomy. However, challenges still remain. There is a steep learning curve associated with the procedure. The development of cost-effective laparoscopic simulators to target the skills required for laparoscopic splenectomy and other laparoscopic procedures is essential. The advent of devices which isolate and seal the large blood vessels that surround the spleen have reduced intra-operative bleeding and minimized conversions to open splenectomy. Improvements in optics and instrumentation, as well as robotic technology, will continue to define the frontier of minimally invasive surgery, and further facilitate the acceptance of laparoscopic splenectomy for the treatment of benign and malignant hematologic diseases.

Harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy: a prospective study

The harmonic scalpel has been in use for tonsillectomy for the last 5-6 years in western Europe and North America. Although some studies have found this technique to be superior to other conventional methods, its use is still not very popular. In this single-blinded prospective study, the intraoperative events and postoperative morbidity after the use of harmonic scalpel in tonsillectomy (HST) was evaluated in 180 cases in two hospitals and compared with conventional steel tonsillectomy (CST) and hemostasis secured by bipolar diathermy or ligatures in 100 cases. Both bipolar diathermy and ligatures were used to control the intraoperative bleeding in all cases of CST and some cases (n =9) of HST. The study was done in two hospitals. Patients were randomized irrespectively of their age, sex, past history or indication for surgery. The total number of patients operated on was 180 for HST and 100 for CST. The surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative pain were compared between the patients who only had tonsillectomy done in either group (n =120 in HST and n = 70 in CST). The mean operative time in the HST group was not longer than the CST group, but the intraoperative blood loss was significantly less in the HST group. Postoperative pain was present in all patients in the HST group, but to a lesser extent than in the CST group. There was no major postoperative hemorrhage in the HST group that required surgical attention. HST has the advantage over CST when secondary hemorrhage after tonsillectomy is considered. Thus, following the results of the National Prospective Tonsillectomy Audit (NPTA), it may be safe to say that HST is superior to most other conventional methods in reducing secondary hemorrhage. The use of disposable blades in CST certainly reduces the risk of the transmission of Cruetzfield-Jacob disease (CJD).

Alternative surgical dissection techniques

The bipolar scissors, coblator, harmonic scalpel, and somnoplasty techniques are widely available and offer new choices for the operating arena. There are advantages and disadvantages to all four techniques. With time, these dissection methods will prove their lasting power. Otolaryngologists have already begun to expand their applications and will surely play a role in their use and development.

Use of the Harmonic Scalpel in Superficial and Total Parotidectomy for Benign and Malignant Disease

OBJECTIVES

Use of the harmonic scalpel in superficial parotidectomy for benign parotid disease has been shown to reduce surgical time as well as intraoperative blood loss. We sought to determine whether similar results could be achieved with the expanded use of the harmonic scalpel in parotidectomy for both benign and malignant disease.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review.

METHODS

The medical records of all patients undergoing superficial or total parotidectomy from 1999 to 2004 were reviewed. Patients were excluded for a history of bleeding disorder, prior facial nerve weakness, or concurrent neck dissection at the time of parotidectomy.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients underwent harmonic scalpel parotidectomy and 41 patients underwent conventional cold knife parotidectomy (control group). Use of the harmonic scalpel was associated with a significant reduction in intraoperative blood loss (38.0 +/- 3.6 mL vs. 66.0 +/- 10.8 mL for controls, P < 0.05) and duration of drainage (31.80 +/- 2.4 h vs. 39.29 +/- 2.21 h for controls, P < 0.05). Use of the harmonic scalpel in superficial parotidectomy (n = 35) compared to controls (n = 37) was associated with a significant reduction in intraoperative blood loss (38.0 +/- 4.23 mL vs. 68.0 +/- 12.0 mL, P < 0.05) and reduced incidence of facial nerve injury (P < 0.05). In patients undergoing total parotidectomy, no significant differences were observed between the harmonic scalpel (n = 9) and control groups (n = 4) in length of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, duration of drainage, and facial nerve injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of the harmonic scalpel in the surgical treatment of parotid disease is safe and confers some advantages over conventional methods of parotid dissection.

The ultrasonically activated scalpel versus bipolar diathermy for tonsillectomy: a prospective, randomized trial

Among patients undergoing tonsillectomy, the ultrasonic scalpel has been reported to lead to less intraoperative blood loss than cold dissection, and less postoperative pain and faster recovery than monopolar electrocautery. However, the ultrasonic scalpel has not been compared with bipolar diathermy. The present study was a prospective, randomized, single-blind trial, comparing these two techniques with respect to postoperative pain. Twenty-one adults underwent tonsillectomy on one side using the ultrasonic scalpel, and on the other using bipolar diathermy. Pain scores were obtained on postoperative days 1, 2, 7 and week 3. There was no difference between the two treatments at any of the time points (P = 0.6047, 0.4018, 0.6047 and 0.5000, respectively). Inability to control bleeding with the ultrasonic scalpel resulted in the rescue use of an alternative technique of haemostasis in 14 cases. We conclude that the use of the ultrasonic scalpel in adult tonsillectomy is likely to be limited by its substantial costs and difficulties with haemostasis.

Contact diode laser tonsillectomy in children

OBJECTIVE

To compare contact diode laser (CDL) tonsillectomy to monopolar cautery (MPC) with regard to pain and other morbidity during recovery.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

Single-blind, randomized trial in a tertiary-care pediatric hospital. Tonsillectomy was performed by CDL in 30 children and by MPC in 28. Parents completed a daily questionnaire for 10 days after surgery.

RESULTS

There was significantly less pain in the CDL group than in the MPC group. The CDL group also required much less medication, and was much less likely to experience multiple awakenings (P < 0.001 for all comparisons).

CONCLUSION

Recovery after CDL tonsillectomy was associated with much less pain and discomfort than after MPC surgery.

SIGNIFICANCE

Postoperative pain is a major concern for surgeons, patients, and their parents. The long recovery period also has costs in school days missed for the child and work missed for the parents. CDL tonsillectomy may greatly mitigate these burdens.

Harmonic Scalpel versus Conventional Tonsillectomy: A Double-Blind Clinical Trial

We conducted a prospective, double-blind clinical trial to evaluate the differences in operating time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain at 3 hours and 1 week, and delayed (> 24 hr) bleeding associated with ultrasonic harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy and conventional tonsillectomy. The study was carried out on 28 patients with recurrent tonsillitis and/or adenotonsillar hypertrophy who underwent harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy on one side and cold dissection tonsillectomy with suction electrocautery hemostasis on the other. The harmonic scalpel was associated with significantly less intraoperative blood loss (mean: 6.2 vs. 58.8 ml; p < 0.0001) and less early (3 hr) postoperative pain as determined by scores on a 10-point visual analog scale (mean: 3.5 vs. 4.4; p = 0.0042); although the difference in early pain scores is statistically significant, it is probably not clinically significant. Pain scores at 1 week were nearly identical (mean: 2.7 vs. 2.6; p = 0.9246). The length of operating time was similar (mean: 10.9 vs. 7.7 min; p = 0.0022). An unanticipated finding was the fact that delayed bleeding, which occurred in 3 patients (10.7%), occurred only on the harmonic scalpel side. We conclude that the only clearly demonstrable advantage that the harmonic scalpel had over cold dissection was that it caused less intraoperative blood loss.

Harmonic Scalpel Tonsillectomy versus Hot Electrocautery and Cold Dissection: An Objective Comparison

We conducted a large-scale retrospective study to compare the surgical efficacy, practical utility, safety, and cost-effectiveness of ultrasonic harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy, hot electrocautery, and cold surgical dissection. We based our findings on the length of operating time, complication rates, the length of hospital stay for patients with complications, and relative costs. We then compared our findings with those published in earlier reports, none of which were based on a three-way comparison. Our study population was made up of 316 patients—175 males and 141 females aged 1 to 23 years (mean: 7.3)—who had undergone adenotonsillectomy or tonsillectomy alone at our tertiary care children's hospital between Sept. 1, 2000, and Aug. 31, 2001. The harmonic scalpel was used on 75 patients (23.7%), electrocautery on 109 patients (34.5%), and cold surgical dissection on 132 (41.8%). The mean length of operating time for adenotonsillectomy was 42.4 (n = 70), 43.0 (n = 103), and 49.2 (n = 95) minutes, respectively; the corresponding times for tonsillectomy alone were 23.6 (n = 5), 30.2 (n = 6), and 35.3 (n = 37) minutes. Overall complication rates were 2.7, 5.5, and 6.1%, respectively. Hospital stays for immediate (<24 hr) postoperative bleeding averaged 2.0, 1.0, and 0.7 days, respectively, and stays for dehydration averaged 1.0, 1.3, and 1.5 days. Mean per-patient institutional costs were $460.00, $310.75, and $300.00, respectively. We conclude that harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy is efficacious, practical, safe, and cost-effective, and we recommend that any institution involved with a significant number of pediatric tonsillectomies consider using it.

Ultrasonically Activated Scalpel Compared with Electrocautery in Tonsillectomy

The occurrence of postoperative bleeding, the quantity of operative bleeding and the duration of operation were retrospectively evaluated in 407 patients who underwent tonsillectomy within a 32-month period. They were operated on with either an ultrasonically activated scalpel (UAS), bipolar diathermy (BPD) or blunt dissection with monopolar diathermy (MPD) with the following results. (1) Primary bleeding was more common with MPD: MPD 7.1% vs. BPD 2.4% (p < 0.01) vs. UAS 1.0% (p < 0.001). Secondary bleeding was more common with UAS: UAS 19.6% vs. MPD 14.5% (p < 0.001) vs. BPD 14.5% (p < 0.01). There was no statistical significance in the differences between overall postoperative bleeding rates. (2) There was statistically significantly less operative bleeding with UAS:UAS 24.8 ml vs. MPD 58.7 ml vs. BPD 43.8 ml. (3) On the other hand, the operation time was on average longer with UAS: UAS 32.3 min vs. MPD 18.4 min vs. BPD 22.1 min. Our results suggest that UAS offers no significant advantage over MPD or BPD in tonsillectomy other than minimal operative bleeding possibly due to longer duration of operation.

Radiofrequency Volume Tissue Reduction of the Tonsils: Case Report and Histopathologic Findings

Innovative new techniques to resect tonsillar tissue have been described in the recent literature. We report the case of a patient who underwent volume reduction of tonsillar tissue by radiofrequency energy under local anesthesia in an office setting. Treatment resulted in a reduction of tonsillar size with minimal pain, which can be attributed to the avoidance of mucosal interruption. The patient subsequently underwent standard tonsillectomy, which allowed us to examine the histopathology of the tissue that was treated with radiofrequency. In doing so, we noted an absence of fibrosis and preservation of normal histologic architecture. We conclude that performing volume reduction of tonsillar tissue by applying radiofrequency energy to the stroma of the tonsils without temperature control results in objective improvement in airway size with minimal effects on the histopathology of the tonsillar stroma. Mucosa-sparing tonsillar reduction may be a preferable alternative to other techniques of tonsillar reduction, especially for young children, who would experience a nearly pain-free procedure.

Pediatric total tonsillectomy using coblation compared to conventional electrosurgery: a prospective, controlled single-blind study

OBJECTIVE

Postoperative recovery after tonsillectomy using Coblation excision (CES) was compared with conventional electrosurgery (ES).

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

Patients aged 3 to 12 years from 3 clinical sites were randomly assigned and blinded to receive tonsillectomy using CES (n = 44) or ES (n = 45).

RESULTS

Operative parameters did not differ between groups. Return to normal diet, activity, and pain-free status were similar, although fewer CES patients contacted the physician regarding postoperative complications (33% vs 54%; p = 0.081), experienced nausea (35% vs 62%, p = 0.013), or had localized site-specific swelling (p < 0.05) during the 2 weeks after surgery. In addition, CES children tended to discontinue prescription narcotics 1 day earlier than ES patients (7 vs 8 days, p = 0.071) and took one half as many daily doses. More CES than ES parents rated the postoperative experience as 'better than expected' (79% vs 60%, p = 0.055).

CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE

Children who received CES tonsillectomy appeared to experience a better quality postoperative course, with no detriment to operative benefits of conventional electrosurgery.