Coblation Versus Diode Laser Tonsillectomy: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Introduction: The study aimed to compare the 2 procedures of tonsillectomy (coblation and diode laser) concerning the operative time, the amount of blood loss, postoperative pain, and other complications. Materials and Methods: A comparative study was conducted at many Private Hospitals, Baghdad, Iraq from February 2019- February 2020. Coblation and laser tonsillectomy were performed on the same patient (one for each side) which was blinded to the patients or their caregivers and the surgeon who did the tonsillectomy. Data concerning the age, gender, indications for tonsillectomy, operative time, the amount of the blood loss, post-tonsillectomy pain by VAS scores, and other complications were recorded for each patient. Results: Out of 62 participants, there were 34 (54.8%) females. The majority were from the age group ≤18 years (n=54, 87.1%). The operative time and amount of the intraoperative blood loss were significantly lower in the coblation than a diode laser tonsillectomy. However, the postoperative pain scores in the diode laser were a statistically significant difference less than the coblation group at the periods 3 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours, and 7 days (P-value<0.05). While there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at 2 weeks postoperative period (P-value=0.392). No primary or secondary postoperative bleeding in all patients. Conclusion: coblation was better than diode laser because of shorter operative time and less intraoperative blood loss. However, the diode laser technique had lesser postoperative pain at the postoperative periods 3 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours, and 7 days than coblation.