Molecular resonance tonsillectomy in children: comparative study over standard techniques in an 11-year study.

Objectives: Learn the molecular resonance (MR) technology for tonsillectomy. An analysis of outcomes of MR compared to standard cold-knife (CK) and monopolar cautery (MPC) for pediatric tonsillectomy offers new possibilities, lowering postoperative morbidity.

Study Design: Eleven-year, prospective, randomized, 3-group trial.

Setting: Tertiary care pediatric institution.

Subjects And Methods: Eight hundred and seventy-three children undergoing adenotonsillectomy were randomly assigned to MR (n = 283), CK (n = 279), or MPC (n = 279) techniques. Outcome measures included intraoperative time, blood loss, postoperative pain, weight loss, and histopathologic examination on excised tonsils.

Results: Histopathologic evaluation revealed reduced thermal injury with MR over MPC (43 µm vs 186, P < .001), statistically associated with reduced muscular, blood vessel, and nerve fiber damage compared to CK (P < .001). Blood loss was minimal in MR. Significant reduced pain scores were related to MR (P < .002). Two MR, 15 CK, and 12 MPC patients experienced delayed bleeding.

Conclusion: MR for pediatric tonsillectomy resulted in reduced histopathologic thermal injury, lower pain scores, and reduced postoperative morbidity compared with CK and MPC techniques in an 11-year study.