Comparision Between CO2 Laser Tonsillectomy and Cold Dissection Tonsillectomy: Single Blind Randomised Controlled Study

Abstract

Abstract Background: History of tonsillectomy is very long back and the first procedure was carried out by Celsus in 40 AD. There are many methods of tonsillectomy like guillotine, cold steel, snare with suture, electro cautery, hot-knife, bipolar, LASER etc. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare intensity of post-operative pain between CO2 laser tonsillectomy and cold dissection tonsillectomy. Methods: Single blind Randomized controlled study was conducted at BPKIHS, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck surgery Results: Study revealed less postoperative pain in LASER side than in cold steel dissection side. Average pain score scaled with VAS was 7.40±1.297 in cold steel dissection whereas 5.15±1.292 for CO2 LASER tonsillectomy. The pain score at 24hrs shows that more than half of the patient with cold steel dissection side have developed severe degree of pain. Whereas most of the patient have only moderate level of pain in the CO2 laser tonsillectomy side. Pain score was 3.65±1.231 for CO2 LASER tonsillectomy and 6.45±1.319 in a cold dissection side at 48hrs. The mean pain score of LASER tonsillectomy at 72 hours was 2.88±0.82 whereas the mean pain score of cold steel dissection method was 4.63±1.079. Conclusion: In the present study, The CO2 laser is associated with less post-operative pain than cold steel dissection method however duration of surgery is more on the LASER side.