Comparative analysis of conventional cold curettage versus endoscopic assisted coblation adenoidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare conventional cold curettage adenoidectomy with endoscopic assisted coblation adenoidectomy in terms of operative time, primary blood loss, post-operative residual tissue and post-operative pain.

METHODS: This prospective non-randomised study was carried out on 60 patients aged 5-12 years. One group underwent conventional cold curettage adenoidectomy and the other underwent endoscopic assisted coblation adenoidectomy, with 30 patients per group.

RESULTS: Mean operation duration was significantly higher for endoscopic assisted coblation adenoidectomy. Mean blood loss was 44.33 ml in conventional cold curettage adenoidectomy and 32.47 ml in endoscopic assisted coblation adenoidectomy. The pain grade was significantly lower in endoscopic assisted coblation adenoidectomy. Forty per cent of patients who underwent conventional cold curettage adenoidectomy had adenoid tissue post-surgery, while it was completely absent in endoscopic assisted coblation adenoidectomy patients.

CONCLUSION: Coblation adenoidectomy has significant advantages over conventional adenoidectomy in terms of reduced blood loss, no post-operative residual tissue and lower pain grade on day 1 after surgery.