Comparison of Postoperative Pain in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Coblation Tonsillectomy versus Cautery Tonsillectomy

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare postoperative pain scores between monopolar electrocautery and coblation subcapsular tonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective double-blind randomized study. SETTING: Tertiary care children's hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between December 2004 and April 2008, 61 children, ages 4 to 20 years (mean age, 10 years; SD, 4 years), were randomized to have one tonsil removed by electrocautery and the other tonsil removed by coblation. Subjects used the FACES scale to rate pain on each side immediately postoperatively, 2 days postoperatively, and 2 weeks postoperatively. Postoperative hemorrhage was also tracked. RESULTS: Coblation tonsillectomy resulted in statistically less pain than electrocautery immediately after surgery, but this difference was not clinically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric pain is similar following monopolar electrocautery or coblation subcapsular tonsillectomy.