Gold laser tonsillectomy—A safe new method

ObjectivesTo determine if Gold laser tonsillectomy is an acceptably safe method of removing tonsils by comparing its complication rates to other established methods, namely Coblation tonsillectomy and cold steel dissection tonsillectomy.Study designA retrospective review of 748 consecutive patients, ages 2–18, undergoing tonsillectomy at a pediatric teaching institution.MethodsTonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy was performed utilizing either the Gold laser (n = 435), Coblation device (n = 153), or by cold steel dissection (n = 160) between August 2005 and August 2007. Hospital charts were then reviewed to determine the rates of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage and dehydration requiring hospital admission.ResultsIn the Gold laser group there were 7 bleeding events (1.61%) and 7 dehydration admissions (1.61%). The Coblation group had 9 bleeding events (5.88%) and 1 dehydration admission (0.65%). The cold steel group had 1 bleed (0.63%) and 2 dehydration admissions (1.25%). The hemorrhage rate associated with Gold laser tonsillectomy was statistically equivalent to cold steel dissection (p = 0.3710) and significantly lower than in our Coblation control group (p = 0.0286).ConclusionsTonsillectomy by means of the Gold laser can be safely performed in the pediatric population.