Past and present instrument use in pediatric adenotonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVE

Examine changing trends/instrument usage for pediatric adenotonsillectomy.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

Survey of 300 members of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology assessing instruments used in adenotonsillectomy currently and over the past 15 years.

RESULTS

A total of 120 surveys were returned. The most common total tonsillectomy instruments for obstruction/infection were: monopolar electrocautery (ME) (53.1%/54.5%) and coblation (CT) (16.0%/16.1%). The most common subtotal tonsillectomy instrument for obstruction/infection was microdebrider (51.4%/30.8%). Over the past 15 years, ME predominated, cold utilization declined, and CT rose. The most common adenoidectomy instruments were ME (25.0%/25.0%), curette with touch-up ME (22.4%/22.4%), and microdebrider with touch-up ME (19.0%/14.7%). Over the past 15 years, curette with touch-up ME predominated early, curette utilization alone declined, and ME, microdebrider, and CT have risen.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric otolaryngologist technique/instrument use for adenotonsillectomy has changed over the past 15 years. This study may be limited by the low survey response rate.