Adenoidectomy: comparison between the conventional curettage technique and the coblation technique in pediatric patients

En Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the coblation technique with the standard conventional curettage technique in the operation of adenoidectomy in pediatric patients. Study design This was a prospective randomized clinical study. Patients and methods From January 2010 to December 2014, 200 patients presented with obstructive adenoid hypertrophy. Their ages ranged between 3 and 10 years. The patients were classified randomly into two equal groups: group A was subjected to conventional curettage adenoidectomy and group B was subjected to coblation-assisted adenoidectomy. Operative time and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. Patients were scheduled for follow-up on the first day and first and second postoperative weeks. They were asked to record their pain and discomfort on a standardized Wong–Baker faces pain rating scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (severe pain). Postoperative complications and/or recurrences were also recorded. Follow-up was for at least 1 year, with re-examination of the nasopharynx by means of endoscopy and/or lateral nasopharyngeal radiography. Results The conventional curettage adenoidectomy group recorded significantly less operative time and the coblation-assisted adenoidectomy group recorded significantly less intraoperative blood loss and also lower incidences of postoperative bleeding and adenoid recurrence. Both groups demonstrated insignificant difference as regards postoperative pain. Conclusion The use of the coblation technology in adenoidectomy gave more advantage to the procedure with regard to less intraoperative blood loss and lower incidences of postoperative bleeding and recurrence rate