Bipolar cautery tonsillectomy using different energy doses: Pain and bleeding

Abstract Objective Tonsillectomies are the most frequently applied operations in the ENT practice. Even though different surgical tonsillectomy techniques have been used, bipolar cautery is the most frequently used one. Our aim was to compare postoperative bleeding rates, pain scores and recovery times in tonsillectomies performed by using bipolar cautery in Joules (1 Watt·sec or W s) calculated by multiplying Watts by the duration of cauterization. Methods Adenotonsillectomy and tonsillectomy patients, admitted to the Department of otorhinolaryngology of Izmir Ataturk Training and Research Hospital and Mardin State Hospital, between January 2007 and December 2012 constituted the study group prospectively. The patients divided into 4 groups due to the energy they exposed. Results Patients in Group 1 recovered most rapidly (mean recovery time, 13.9 ± 1.8 days). Statistically significant results were obtained between Groups 1 and 4 and also Groups 2 and 4 when recovery times of the patient groups were evaluated with Bonferroni correction test. Conclusion As a result, for hemostatic control, electrocauterization should be used at lower doses and short-term as possible so as to decrease frequency of bleeding episodes, alleviate postoperative pain and accelerate wound healing.