Maeda-Núñez LA, Covarrubias-Tavera M, Flores-Meza B, Murguía-de Acosta ME

Language: Spanish
References: 10
Page: 158-164
PDF size: 362. Kb.

ABSTRACT

Background: Tonsillectomy is one of the most common procedures around the world.
Objectives: To show the efficacy of the harmonic scalpel and the advantages in tonsillectomy, to identify the main complications and primary or secondary hemorrhage after the procedure, and to perform the histopathologic study of the stroma and vasculature of the tonsil.
Patients and method: A descriptive and retrospective study included all patients who underwent tonsillectomy with harmonic scalpel at the Hospital Angeles Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, from March 2003 to March 2006. After the tonsillectomy, we used the harmonic scalpel to cut through the stroma and vasculature and were sent to pathology for further study.
Results: Of 223 patients, 5 (2.2%) presented posttonsillectomy hemorrhage and needed revision surgery and hemostasis between the 5^th and 10^th days after the surgery. Most cases of secondary hemorrhage occurred in the first year with better results in the next years.
Conclusion: There was a definitive lowering in the bleeding incidence, with only 5 cases, which accounted for 2.2% of the total. The harmonic scalpel should be considered a safe and better option in tonsillectomy.

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