RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The postoperative convalescence after tonsillectomy is difficult because of a high rate of secondary hemorrhages and severe pain. The Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel cuts in the longitudinal direction and coagulates simultaneously by means of a 55.500 Hz vibrating blade. A randomized prospective simple blind study was conceived to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the "Ultrasound Tonsillectomy" with the conventional method. PATIENTS: Between 8/1999 and 3/2000 25 tonsillectomies were performed with the Ultracision (TEuc-group) and 25 with conventional methods (TEkonv-group). The age of the patients was between 18 and 65 years. RESULTS: The median intraoperative blood loss in the TEuc-group was significantly lower than the TEkonv-group (19.0 g/176.0 g), the pain symptoms were comparatively less. On the other hand postoperative blood losses of the TEuc-group were clearly higher (7/25 vs. 3/25), wounds healed more slowly, the development of the wound covering and the swelling of the uvula were significantly larger. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of the study the ultrasound technique is not superior to the conventional tonsillectomy.
