Laser lingual tonsillotomy.

The classic surgical procedures for treatment of complaints caused by hyperplasia and chronic inflammation of the lingual tonsil are difficult, and may involve serious complications. Eleven patients with hyperplasia of the lingual tonsil were treated with a Tungsram TLS 61 CO2 laser coupled to an operating microscope. The average duration of hospitalization was 3-4 days. The advantages of the use of a CO2 laser are haemostasis, sealing of the nerve endings, decrease of postoperative pain, and no postoperative oedema, which is important because of the closeness of the larynx. There were no serious complications either during surgery or in the postoperative period, and the complaints of all 11 patients were eliminated or reduced.