Coblation Tonsillectomy Audit

Title:   Coblation Tonsillectomy Audit                                                                               Usama Kamel

Aims: To present my audit findings of coblation tonsillectomy.

Methods:

Retrospective analysis of data collected from casenotes of patients who had tonsillectomy by coblation technique from Aug 2013 to Feb 2014. Outcomes of return to theatre, primary bleed, secondary bleed and overnight stay have been analysed.

Results:

10 patients (3 children and 7 adults) had tonsillectomy by coblation. Age range of adults: 19 – 46 years and children 6 - 12 years old. None stayed overnight or returned to hospital within four weeks.

Discussions:

Coblation is a bipolar probe to generate a radiofrequency electrical current. This produces a flow of sodium ions, which destroys surrounding tissue. The probe is used to dissect out the tonsil while cauterising any blood vessels visualised. Coblation probes heat surrounding tissues less than standard diathermy probes (operating temperature is 60ºC with coblation vs >100ºC with standard diathermy). Although coblation technique has been criticised for complication, this small personal audit supports a further larger audit. Coblation technique is costly in the NHS, however, as it shown in this audit, it pays back having no overnight stay, return to hospital for re-admission, or return to theatre. We recommend a bigger comparative study and cost analysis on NHS patients.