Postoperative Complications of Powered Intracapsular Tonsillectomy and Monopolar Electrocautery Tonsillectomy in Teens versus Adults

Teenage patients who undergo tonsillectomy should be considered unique as far as complication rates are concerned. Comparison of technique-specific complication rates between adults and teens showed no significant differences in either the PIT or MET groups, although adults who underwent MET had greater hemorrhage rates that almost met significance (p = 0.053). Adults who were undergoing tonsillectomy for chronic tonsillitis were more likely than teens to encounter postoperative hemorrhage if they underwent the MET technique.