Feasibility of Powered Intracapsular Tonsillectomy in Pediatric Patients with Tonsil Problem, Including Recurrent Tonsillitis: A Single Surgeon’s Experience

INTRODUCTION: Powered intracapsular tonsillectomy (PIT) is a technique that protects the tonsillar capsule by using a microdebrider, resulting in faster wound-healing and reduced suffering. Many studies have found PIT to be effective, particularly in pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, previous studies have not included patients with a history of recurrent tonsillitis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of PIT in pediatric patients even with a history of recurrent tonsillitis, and therefore, we want to expand the indication for PIT and reveal its safety. METHODS: A total of 886 pediatric patients underwent PIT between February 2013 and March 2016. All patients rated their postoperative pain using a visual analog scale (VAS) and completed the Korean obstructive sleep apnea (KOSA)-18 questionnaire for assessment of their quality of life (QOL). There were 539 males and 347 females. Their mean age was 6.2 years (range 2-14 years). The majority (77.7%) underwent the operation for OSA, and the rest (22.3%) had a history of recurrent tonsillitis. To compare the efficacy of PIT with traditional tonsillectomy, we selected 191 patients who underwent extracapsular tonsillectomy (ECT), a conventional technique, during the same time period. The median follow-up period was 16.7 months. During the follow-up period, instances of delayed bleeding and recurrent pharyngitis were monitored. RESULTS: In comparison to the patients who underwent ECT, the PIT group showed significantly fewer cases of postoperative bleeding (p = 0.027). Thirteen patients in the PIT group (1.5%) visited the hospital during the follow-up period for pharyngitis, while 8 in the ECT group (4.2%) visited for pharyngitis. The mean postoperative pain score, as assessed by a VAS, was 4.6 ± 3.2, and pain improved within an average of 2.9 days after surgery in the PIT group. The mean KOSA-18 score for the QOL of the patients was 65.9 preoperatively and 35.6 postoperatively in the PIT group. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric tonsillectomy using PIT is valid for reducing postoperative pain and improving the QOL of OSA patients. PIT is also effective and safe for patients with a history of recurrent tonsillitis.