The Journal of Laryngology & Otology
- The Journal of Laryngology & Otology / Volume 123 / Issue 08 / August 2009, pp 907-909
- Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S002221510900485X (About DOI), Published online: 11 March 2009
Short Communications
Guillotine tonsillectomy: a neglected technique
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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.
(Accepted December 08 2008)
(Online publication March 11 2009)
Key wordsTonsil; Tonsillitis; Tonsillectomy; Guillotine; Dissection
Correspondence:
c1 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
Footnotes
VS Sunkaraneni & H Ismail-Koch are the joint first authors.
Mr P K Jain takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper.
Competing interests: Mr P K Jain is the inventor of the Jain tonsil ‘A’ frame and the Jain insulated pillar retractor, which are manufactured by Downs Surgical, Sheffield, UK.
