RESUMO
Aims: To compare the mean intensity of post-operative pain in Harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy and conventional blunt dissection method in pediatric age group
Patients and Methods: It was randomized control trial with non-probability, consecutive sampling done in the ENT Department, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore. The study was conducted. from 01-03-2012 to 31-08-2013
Results: In 81 out of 162 patients, tonsillectomy was performed by Harmonic scalpel and they were labeled as Group-A. While in remaining 81 patients, labeled as Group-B, tonsillectomy was performed by conventional blunt dissection method. The post operative pain was significantly less in Group-A on day 1, 2, 3 and 5 with P-value <0.001. While on day seven although the pain is less in Group-A but it is not statistically significant
Conclusions: Tonsillectomy performed by ultrasonic harmonic scalpel is associated with lower postoperative pain as compared with conventional blunt dissection method. Thus, we believe that the use of this new technique for tonsillectomy may result in additional benefit to the patients