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Guillotine tonsillectomy: a neglected technique

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2017

V S Sunkaraneni ,
H Ismail-Koch ,
R J Salib  and
P K Jain
V S Sunkaraneni
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, UK
H Ismail-Koch
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Southampton General Hospital, UK
R J Salib
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Southampton General Hospital, UK
P K Jain*
Affiliation:
Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Parmod K Jain, ENT Department, Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Poole BH15 2JB, UK. Fax: +44 (0)1202 448410 E-mail: parmod.jain@virgin.net
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Abstract

Background:

Increased post-operative tonsillectomy haemorrhage rates have been observed following ‘hot’ tonsillectomy techniques, compared with ‘cold steel’ dissection. Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage rates and the degree of blood loss during guillotine tonsillectomy have not been reported in the recent literature.

Methods:

This retrospective case note review assessed the degree of blood loss during guillotine tonsillectomy, as measured by the number of tonsil swabs used, and the post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage rate.

Results:

In a group of 168 patients, no tonsil swabs were used in 13.1 per cent of cases, and less than two tonsil swabs were used in 41.1 per cent of cases.

Conclusion:

Guillotine tonsillectomy, when performed by the method described in this article, resulted in minimal intra-operative blood loss in 54 per cent of cases, and appeared to have comparable post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage rates to cold steel dissection techniques.

Keywords

TonsilTonsillitisTonsillectomyGuillotineDissection
Type
Short Communications
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 123 , Issue 8 , August 2009 , pp. 907 - 909
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

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Footnotes

VS Sunkaraneni & H Ismail-Koch are the joint first authors.

References

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