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Pain scores and recovery post tonsillectomy: intracapsular versus extracapsular coblation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2019

M Junaid ,
S Sood ,
H Walijee ,
J Dorgham  and
S De
M Junaid*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK
S Sood
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK
H Walijee
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK
J Dorgham
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK
S De
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Mr Mustaffa Junaid, Department of Otolaryngology, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, East Prescot Road, Liverpool L14 5AB, UK E-mail: mjunaid@nhs.net
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Abstract

Objective

This study compared post-tonsillectomy pain scores and recovery using the coblation-only technique, comparing extracapsular versus intracapsular approaches.

Methods

A prospective study was performed in our paediatric ENT department. Pain scores were recorded on days 0, 2, 4 and 8, using a visual analogue scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (extreme pain). Information was also collected on: return to normal fluid and solid intake, and any post-operative visits to primary care.

Results

In total, 101 patients were included in the analysis. Average pain scores were statistically lower on days 2, 4 and 8 in the intracapsular group compared to the extracapsular cohort. The intracapsular cohort also returned sooner to normal fluid and solids intake. The extracapsular group were more likely to visit the general practitioner post-operatively.

Conclusion

Intracapsular tonsillectomy appears to result in reduced morbidity overall and should be considered as a viable alternative in relevant cases.

Keywords

TonsillectomyTonsillotomyIntracapsularExtracapsularPain ScoresRecovery
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 133 , Issue 9 , September 2019 , pp. 775 - 781
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2019 

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Footnotes

Mr M Junaid takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

Presented orally at the British Association of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (BACO) International 2018 British Association for Paediatric Otolaryngology Symposium, 5 July 2018, Manchester, UK, and as a poster (awarded 1st prize) at the British Association for Paediatric Otolaryngology Annual Meeting, 14 September 2018, London, UK.

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