Does cooling the tonsillar fossae during thermal welding tonsillectomy have an effect on postoperative pain and healing?

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cooling the tonsillar fossa during thermal welding tonsillectomy on pain and wound healing. Prospective, blinded, clinical study was conducted. 30 patients who underwent tonsillectomy by thermal welding were evaluated. When one of the tonsillar fossa was cooled by isotonic fluid, the other has left untreated. Postoperative pain and mucosal healing pattern were assessed. Data were recorded and statistically analyzed. Healing process of the cooled down tonsillar fossae were significantly better on the 7th and 14th postoperative day (p < 0.01). Control tonsillar fossae had significantly higher pain scores on the 3rd, 7th and 14th postoperative day (p < 0.05). Administration of isotonic fluid, during thermal welding tonsillectomy for cooling tonsillar fossae, accelerates wound-healing process significantly and decreases tonsillectomy related pain complaints post-operatively.