BACKGROUND: The Argon-Plasma-Coagulation (APC) offers an innovative possibility for the tonsillectomy combined with a high-frequency technology. Aim of our study was to inves-tigate the differences between this high-frequency-technology and the traditional tonsillectomy. No reports exist in the use of the APC in the tonsillectomy. METHODS:Argon-Plasma-Coagulation tonsillectomy (TE-APC) was compared with the traditional blunt dissection tonsillectomy (TE-trad) with hemostasis by compression and bipolar coagulation. 133 patients were stratified in two age groups in a clinical prospective randomised study. RESULTS:Average surgical time and blood loss were markedly decreased in the TE-APC group (p<0,01). There was no significant difference between the two techniques concerning postoperative pain, otalgia, and primary or secondary haemorrhage. In the TE-APC group more extensive fibrin layer appeared after surgery. In the TE-APC patients' group, there was a slightly higher consume of analgetics in some postoperative days. CONCLUSIONS: The one-step dissection and coagulation procedure leads to an almost bloodfree woundground and to a reduction of operation-time. The self-limited and effective coagualative properties of the APC-method leads to a controlled penetration depth. The often associated extensive post operative pain and uncontrolled tissue- damage, known from electrical and lasersurgical techniques, was not found in TE-APC-patients-group.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The Argon-Plasma-Coagulation (APC) offers an innovative possibility for the tonsillectomy combined with a high-frequency technology. Aim of our study was to inves-tigate the differences between this high-frequency-technology and the traditional tonsillectomy. No reports exist in the use of the APC in the tonsillectomy. METHODS: Argon-Plasma-Coagulation tonsillectomy (TE-APC) was compared with the traditional blunt dissection tonsillectomy (TE-trad) with hemostasis by compression and bipolar coagulation. 133 patients were stratified in two age groups in a clinical prospective randomised study. RESULTS: Average surgical time and blood loss were markedly decreased in the TE-APC group (p<0,01). There was no significant difference between the two techniques concerning postoperative pain, otalgia, and primary or secondary haemorrhage. In the TE-APC group more extensive fibrin layer appeared after surgery. In the TE-APC patients' group, there was a slightly higher consume of analgetics in some postoperative days. CONCLUSIONS: The one-step dissection and coagulation procedure leads to an almost bloodfree woundground and to a reduction of operation-time. The self-limited and effective coagualative properties of the APC-method leads to a controlled penetration depth. The often associated extensive post operative pain and uncontrolled tissue- damage, known from electrical and lasersurgical techniques, was not found in TE-APC-patients-group.