comparative study of diathermy and dissection tonsillectomy

500 cases were subjected to diathermy tonsillectomy between June to December 1992-1996. Comparison between diathermy and dissection method was evaluated by performing diathermy tonsillectomy on one side and dissection method on the other side of a patient as a control. Evaluation was done with reference to intra operative bleeding, operating time, post operative haemorrhage and the post operative pain. Intra-operative bleeding was 10 ml with diathermy method and 33 ml with dissection method on an average. Average operative time was 8 minutes with diathermy and 15 minutes with dissection. Pain was felt equivocally in 350 of the cases. Diathermy tonsillectomy was particularly useful in adults