New Tonsil Procedure for Kids

SAN JOSE, Calif. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows reducing tonsils by radiofrequency is safe and effective and could be a better alternative than surgery for children.

Temperature-controlled radiofrequency works by heating the tissue through an electrode, which causes the tissue to shrink. This procedure has been proven effective in adults who need their tonsils removed or shrunk. Researchers from San Jose, Calif., conducted a study to determine if this procedure is safe and effective for children.

When a child has a sleep-related breathing disorder, surgery to remove the tonsils and adenoids is often recommended. While this treatment is effective, it can also be hard on the child and parents. The surgery causes pain, dehydration, weight loss and there is a chance for infection. Parents often miss many days of work to take care of their child. These problems are often associated with the surgical removal of the tonsils, not the adenoids.

The current study included 10 children who needed their tonsils and adenoids removed because of a sleep-related breathing disorder. The patients all had radiofrequency to reduce their tonsils, along with surgery to remove their adenoids. The doctor looked at the tonsil size reduction, evaluated symptoms, and followed up with the patients after one year.

Researchers found the average tonsil size reduction was 75 percent without any evidence of regrowth. After the procedure, all of the children were drinking liquids in the recovery room and most were eating some soft foods within six hours. On average, the children returned to normal activities after four days and the parents missed about three days of work. Researchers also report 89 percent of the children had improvements in snoring. There were no major complications reported.

The study shows radiofrequency for tonsil reduction is a safe and effective treatment for children. However, a larger, multicenter controlled study is underway now to confirm these results.

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