A double‐blinded randomized controlled trial of coblation versus conventional dissection tonsillectomy on post‐ operative symptoms

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare postoperative symptoms following coblation tonsillectomy with those experienced following a traditional cold dissection. DESIGN: A prospective randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Secondary otorhinolaryngology care. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-two adult patients with recurrent tonsillitis meriting tonsillectomy were recruited and randomly allocated into either coblation or cold dissection tonsillectomy groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were post-operative pain, otalgia, swallowing and analgesia use at 6-8 hours, 1, 3, 7 and 14 days post-operative. Secondary outcomes were post-operative day returned to eating and returned to normal activities/work. RESULTS: No significant differences between the two groups (P >or= 0.1) were found in any of the above primary outcomes, apart from swallowing at 6-8 hrs post-operatively where the cold dissection group had less pain. This group also returned earlier to normal eating (P = 0.03). The power of the study was sufficient to show a difference in the visual analogue scores of 2 between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of coblation to perform tonsillectomy does not confer any symptomatic benefits to the patient over conventional cold dissection tonsillectomy.