A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON POST-OPERATIVE PAIN BETWEEN BIPOLAR DIATHERMY AND LIGATION IN TONSILLECTOMY

BACKGROUND Tonsillectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgeries worldwide. It is usually safe and simple, but haemorrhage is the most feared complication post tonsillectomy because of the risk of airway obstruction, shock and ultimately death if inappropriately treated or untreated. There are many methods to control post-operative haemorrhage and the commonest are ligation method and bipolar diathermy coagulation. Excessive pain is one complication of tonsillectomy and this is usually due to tissue trauma.1 The aim of this study was to compare the intensity and duration of post-operative pain in patients using bipolar diathermy and ligation in tonsillectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS All patients who underwent tonsillectomy in 5-15 age group in a one-year study period were included in the study. The study was conducted after getting ethical clearance and permission from parents. Patients were admitted one day prior to surgery and selection was simple random selection. Assessment of intensity of pain was done by using a Visual Analog scale. 2 Study Setting- Study conducted in 80 patients in age group of 5-15 years, who underwent tonsillectomy in Otorhinolaryngology department, Government Medical College, Kottayam. Study Design- It is a comparative observational study. RESULTS The study showed no significant difference in intensity of pain in tonsillectomy in ligation and bipolar techniques. CONCLUSION The post-operative pain after tonsillectomy may vary widely and little information is available in literature. This is a study on post-operative pain and no significant difference obtained in these groups