Radiofrequency Energy Tonsillotomy as Effective as Tonsillectomy Surgery

A new study claims that radiofrequency (RF) tonsillotomy, which enables surgeons to reduce the size of the tonsillar tissue instead of removing the tonsils entirely, is an effective and safe method of treating children with symptoms of enlarged tonsils.

Researchers at Ystad Hospital (Sweden) followed 167 children who underwent radiofrequency tonsillotomy in 2007 and 2008 for symptoms of tonsillar hypertrophy, including snoring, sleep apnea, dysphagia, and speech impairment. None of the children had a history of recurrent tonsillitis. During the follow-up period that ranged from 2 to 26 months, more than 91% of the children experienced a complete or definite improvement in their symptoms of tonsillar hypertrophy; moreover, this finding was not affected by the duration of follow-up. No serious adverse effects were seen in any of the children. The results of the study were presented at the 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) annual meeting, held during October 2009 in San Diego (CA, USA).

"This surgical method has previously been shown to cause less pain and give more rapid recovery than tonsillectomy, and we have now shown that it is also a safe and effective way of treating children with symptoms of enlarged tonsils,” said study author Goran Harsten, M.D.

In the past, children with symptoms of tonsillar hypertrophy have usually been treated with tonsillectomy. Such surgery is a relatively common and safe procedure, but complications can include postoperative bleeding and infection. The radiofrequency-tonsillotomy method causes less pain and allows more rapid recovery.

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Ystad Hospital