[Temperature-controlled radiofrequency-assisted endoscopic tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children].

OBJECTIVE

To compare the outcomes of temperature-controlled radiofrequency-assisted endoscopic tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (rT + A) and conventional tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (cT + A) in children.

METHOD: Forty-seven children who were with hypertrophy of both tonsils and adenoid and underwent tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy were retrospectively studied. There are 24 patients underwent rT + A and 23 patients underwent cT+A. Data of surgery time, bleeding volume, duration of postoperative pain and duration of postoperative pseudomembrane were collected and analysed. Hearing and disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaire (OSA-18) were analysed.

RESULT: Surgery times of rT + A are statistically shorter than those of cT + A, bleeding volumes of rT + A are significantly less than those of cT + A. There are no differences of the duration of postoperative pain and duration of pseudomembrane between these two groups. Hearings were increased to normal in all conductive hearing loss patients. OSA-18 scores were declined significantly in rT + A group than cT + A.

CONCLUSION

Temperature-controlled radiofrequency-assisted endoscopic operation can reduce bleeding volume and shorten surgery time without more pain or injury to patients, and the effect is satisfactory.