Syed Mosaddaque Iqbal, Ahsan Khan.
A comparative analysis of performing Tonsillectomy by diathermy versus dissection method.
J Surg Pak Jan ;10(3):17-9.

Objective: To compare and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of performing tonsillectomy using diathermy with dissection method. Place & Duration: This study was conducted at Otolaryngology department, Fatima Hospital Baqai Medical College Karachi, between August 2000 and February 2003. Design: Comparative Study Patients and Method: Two hundred patients were included in this study. One hundred patients underwent tonsillectomy by diathermy (Group I) and the other one hundred had their tonsils removed by dissection method (Group II). Results: The average operative time was 14 minutes using diathermy and 25 minutes for dissection method. The average intra-operative blood loss was 10 ml with diathermy and 35 ml with dissection method. Post- operative hemorrhage occurred in 12 cases of Group I and 5 of Group IL Postoperative pain of longer duration (10 days) was observed in 38 cases after diathermy and 12 cases after dissection method. Conclusion: Tonsillectomy using diathermy is relatively fast and bloodless but due to higher rate of post-operative hemorrhage, late post-operative pain and delay in patient`s return to normal activities, does not represent a significant advantage over the dissection method.

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