[Hydrodissection for tonsillectomy. Results of a pilot study--intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain symptoms and risk of secondary hemorrhage].

: Tonsillectomy is one of the most common procedures in head and neck surgery. Various techniques have been developed to reduce the risk of postoperative bleeding and postoperative pain. Water-jet technology has been designed for a gentle dissection of parenchymal organs. We report the results of a first pilot study using the water-jet technique for tonsillectomy.METHODS.: Water-jet-cutting tonsillectomy was compared with conventional blunt dissection tonsillectomy. 60 Patients were stratified in two groups within a preliminary prospective randomised study. Postoperative pain scores, frequency of postoperative bleeding and intraoperative blood loss were documented.RESULTS.: There was no difference in the average duration of the surgical procedure. The intraoperative bloodloss was markedly decreased in water-jet-cutting tonsillectomy. Postoperative bleeding and postoperative pain were decreased in the water-jet-cutting group.CONCLUSION.: The results of this pilot study demonstrate that water-cutting tonsillectomy is associated with less intraoperative bleeding, reduced frequency of postoperative bleeding events and with less postoperative pain.