Monopolar versus bipolar cautery in tonsillectomy: A comparative study

Abstract

Introduction: Tonsillectomy is the most commonly performed surgeries in otolaryngology. Despite the evolution in surgical and anaesthetic techniques, pain and bleeding are still the most important surgical complications. This study was done to compare the pain and bleeding following tonsillectomy using monopolar and bipolar cautery techniques in our population.

Methods: It was a prospective, longitudinal study done over a period of one year at Gandaki Medical College, Pokhara, Nepal. Total 45 patients who underwent tonsillectomy by either monopolar or bipolar cautery were included in the study and assessed for postoperative pain and haemorhage. The data was entered in Microsoft Excel and further analysis done by statistical package for the social sciences 16.0. The association of variables was be tested by Chi square test and p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Confidence interval was be kept at 95%.

Results: Out of the 45 patients who underwent tonsillectomy, 35.5% were males and 64.5% were females. The age of patients varied from 16 to 60 years. Mean age of the patients was 27.5 years. Fourty percent of the total patients underwent tonsillectomy by monopolar cautery whereas 60% patients were operated by bipolar cautery. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups regarding age, sex ratio, postoperative pain and bleeding.

Conclusions: Both monopolar and bipolar cautery are equally effective methods of tonsillectomy in terms of postoperative pain and haemorrhage.