Tonsillectomy News and Research

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A tonsillectomy is a procedure whreby the tonsils are removed from either side of the throat. The procedure is performed in response to cases of repeated occurrence of acute tonsillitis or adenoiditis, obstructive sleep apnea, nasal airway obstruction, snoring, or peritonsillar abscess.

New research shows microdebrider technique has lowest overall complication rate

In a review of three different surgical techniques commonly used for tonsillectomy, the microdebrider technique (where a rotary cutting tool is used to shave tissue) had the lowest overall complication rate when compared to the other two techniques. The results are shown in new research published in the June 2010 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.

1 Jun 2010

Robotic surgery keeps features intact in head, neck cancer removal procedures

Surgeons who perform procedures to remove head and neck cancers often work for six to eight hours on what is typically major, invasive surgery, which many times comes with facial disfigurement and debilitating side effects for the patient.

13 May 2010

Adequate primary care is associated with fewer ear and throat surgeries among children

The availability of surgeons may increase the likelihood that children will receive optional ear and throat surgeries, while the availability of primary care providers, such as pediatricians and family physicians, may decrease the likelihood of children undergoing these procedures, according to research to be presented Saturday, May 1 at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

3 May 2010

ASPO meeting to focus on children's ear, nose and throat health

The American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology will hold its annual meeting, April 30 - May 2, during the 2010 Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings - a joint meeting of eight otolaryngological societies in Las Vegas, NV.

27 Apr 2010

Study indicates pain treatment may vary in Latino and white children post surgery

Differences might exist in the amount of pain medicine given to Latino and white children after surgery, found a new, small study in which Latino children received 30 percent less opioid analgesics (morphine or morphine-like drugs) than white children did.

9 Feb 2010

Surgery may not be the best option for children with obstructive sleep apnea

For children with obstructive sleep apnea, standard care often includes a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. But researchers at Saint Louis University say further research is needed to determine if surgery is the best option for these patients.

5 Nov 2009

Uvopalatopharyngoplasty surgery is effective for treating sleep apnea disorder

According to research recently published by an Oregon Health & Science University scientist, a form of surgery called uvopalatopharyngoplasty is effective for treating certain patients who suffer from sleep apnea, one of the most common sleep disorders.

9 Oct 2009

Medtronic receives global distribution rights for PEAK Surgical’s tissue dissection device

PEAK Surgical, Inc. and Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) today announced an agreement that grants the Surgical Technologies business at Medtronic exclusive rights for global distribution and marketing of the PEAK PlasmaBlade® TnA (Tonsil and Adenoid) tissue dissection device for the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) market.

6 Oct 2009

Radiofrequency-tonsillotomy: Effective method for treating children with enlarged tonsils

Radiofrequncy-tonsillotomy, which enables surgeons to reduce the size of the tonsillar tissue instead of removing the tonsils entirely, seems to be an effective and safe method of treating children with symptoms of enlarged tonsils.

5 Oct 2009

First time portable CT used for skull base endoscopic transnasal surgery

When Susan Dailey was 11 years old, she was admitted to a hospital by her loving parents, who assumed she would get a routine tonsillectomy to cure her chronic sore throat.

20 Mar 2009

Mysterious fevers of unknown origin: Could surgery be a cure?

A child spikes a high fever, sometimes as high as 104 or 105 degrees, and sometimes causing seizures.

31 Mar 2008

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy surgery improves quality of life for children with sleep apnea

For children who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy can provide dramatic relief and is successful in solving sleep problems for 80 to 90 percent of children, a Saint Louis University study found.

13 Feb 2008

Tonsillectomies to treat chronic and recurrent tonsillitis

Tonsillectomies to treat chronic and recurrent tonsillitis substantially improve a patient's quality of live in both children and adults, according to two new studies published as a supplement to the January 2008 issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

2 Jan 2008

New robotic surgery technique appears promising for the removal of cancer in tonsils

Typically, surgeons trying to remove tonsils of patients with cancer through the mouth have limited access to the area, according to background information in the article. If the cancer has spread to any of the surrounding tissues, an open approach involving cutting through the skin is needed. These procedures take a long time, can cause long-term difficulty swallowing and usually require the placement of a tracheotomy tube.

18 Dec 2007

Tonsillectomy may increase costs without benefits in some children

A Dutch study suggests that among children with mild or moderate symptoms of throat infections, surgery to remove the tonsils may be more expensive but not necessarily more beneficial than watchful waiting, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

20 Nov 2007

Tonsillectomy sorts out children's sleep apnea and improves their behaviour

Doctors in the U.S. say children diagnosed with sleep-related breathing disorders sleep better after their tonsils and adenoids are removed.

17 Oct 2007

Coblation VS Co2 laser for tonsil ablation in adults

New surgical procedures are being developed that could help to speed healing time and reduce pain for adult patients suffering from chronic tonsillitis.

18 Sep 2007

Effects of tonsillectomy on speech spectrum

Although tonsillectomy is therapeutic for chronic tonsillitis, the procedure has the potential to affect speech quality, by altering the resonant characteristics of the vocal tract, and to modify velopharyngeal function (the closing off of the nose from the mouth during speech).

18 Sep 2007

The coblation tonsillectomy learning curve

Surgeons who learn new surgical techniques for tonsillectomies must master the procedure to ensure proper care for patients.

18 Sep 2007

Tonsillectomies increasingly performed to treat snoring and sleep disorders

A new Mayo Clinic study indicates tonsillectomies are increasingly being performed to treat airway obstructions evidenced by snoring and sleep disorders as opposed to tonsil infections.

18 Sep 2007