Coblation tonsillectomy versus cold steel dissection tonsillectomy: a morphological study

Coblation Versus Surgical Debridement Against MRSA Infection in Wounds With Shrapnel: A Preliminary Study

INTRODUCTION

Debridement plays a critical role in wound management. In addition to removing necrotic tissue, debridement can eliminate bacteria frequently harbored within the tissue. This study evaluated a novel debridement method that uses plasma-based radiofrequency technology to remove tissue and bacteria. Coblation is a technology that uses radiofrequency energy to excite the electrolytes in a conductive medium, such as saline, to create a precisely focused plasma. This plasma field contains highly energized particles that possess sufficient energy to break tissue molecular bonds, causing the tissue to dissolve at relatively low temperatures (typically 40 °C to 70 °C).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen deep dermal wounds measuring 22 mm × 22 mm × 3 mm deep were created on pigs. Wounds were inoculated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300 (MRSA USA300) in combination with shrapnel and then covered with a polyurethane dressing for 24 hours. Wounds were then randomly assigned to one of the 3 treatment groups: (1) Coblation, (2) surgical debridement, and (3) no debridement. Wounds were biopsied on days 0, 5, 9, and 12, and specimens were processed for MRSA counts using selective media. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS statistics 27 using one-way ANOVA.

RESULTS

Comparison between coblation and surgical debridement showed a decrease in bacterial count in all assessment times. The lowest bacterial count in all assessment times was observed in wounds debrided with coblation showing a statistically significant (P ≤ .05) decrease in more than 2 Log CFU/g on days 0, 5, and 9 compared to no debridement. On day 12, coblation-debrided wounds exhibited 6.10 ± 0.22 Log CFU/g, and this value represents 99.99% of reduction compared with non-debrided wounds (P ≤ .05). More than 96% of reduction (P ≤ .05) resulted in wounds treated with coblation compared with surgically debrided.

CONCLUSIONS

Reducing MRSA bacterial infection counts, especially of biofilm-associated organisms, in combination with shrapnel may have important clinical implications, especially for the military personnel. Further research into the use of this technology in wound management is warranted.

Comparing nationally reported adverse events associated with coblation vs. PlasmaBlade for tonsillectomy

OBJECTIVE(S)

Coblation, or radiofrequency ablation, and pulsed-electron avalanche knife (PEAK) plasmablade are newer approaches for tonsillectomy that reduce exposure to thermal heat. This study aims to describe and compare adverse events related to these devices for tonsillectomy.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

SETTING

The US Food and Drug Administration's Manufacture and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database.

METHODS

The MAUDE database was queried for reports involving coblation devices and the PEAK plasmablade from 2011 to 2021. Data were extracted from reports pertaining to tonsillectomy with and without adenoidectomy.

RESULTS

There were 331 reported adverse events for coblation and 207 for the plasmablade. For coblation, 53 (16.0 %) of these involved patients and 278 (84.0 %) were device malfunctions. Similarly for the plasmablade, 22 (10.6 %) involved patients and 185 (89.4 %) were device malfunctions. The most frequent patient-related adverse event was burn injury, which was significantly more common with the plasmablade compared to coblation (77.3 % vs. 50.9 %, respectively, p = 0.042). For both the coblator and plasmablade, the most common device malfunction was intraoperative tip or wire damage (16.9 % vs. 27.0 %, respectively, p = 0.010). The Plasmablade tip caught fire in five reports (2.7 %) with one causing burn injury.

CONCLUSIONS

While coblation devices and the plasmablade have demonstrated utility in tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy, they are associated with adverse events. Plasmablade use may require greater caution for intraoperative fires and patient burn injuries compared to coblation use. Interventions to improve physician comfort with these devices may help reduce adverse events and inform preoperative discussions with patients.

Comparative systematic review and meta-analysis of the therapeutic effects of coblation tonsillectomy versus electrocautery tonsillectomy

BACKGROUND

Surgical removal of the primary lesion is a common treatment for chronic tonsillitis, recurrent tonsillitis, and tonsillar hypertrophy, and is the most widely performed surgery in otorhinolaryngology. With the development and progress of medical science and technology, the methods of tonsillectomy have gradually diversified, and it is of great significance to seek the best tonsillectomy method. This meta-analysis explored the advantages and disadvantages of coblation tonsillectomy (CT) and electrocautery tonsillectomy (ET).

METHODS

The keywords "coblation", "radiofrequency ablation", "electrocautery", and "tonsillectomy" were used to search the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar databases, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the 2 procedures since the establishment of the database were included. After screening and bias risk assessment, a meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 software.

RESULTS

A total of 10 articles met the inclusion criteria and entered the final meta-analysis. There were 1,056 participants, including 547 patients who underwent CT and 509 patients who underwent ET. There was no significant difference in the operation time between CT and ET [standard mean difference (SMD) =0.39, 95% CI: -0.35 to 1.13, Z=1.044, P=0.296]. CT resulted in less intraoperative blood loss than ET (SMD =-2.62, 95% CI: -4.83 to -0.41, Z=-2.322, P=0.020). The postoperative pain score of CT was less than ET, but the difference was not statistically significant (SMD =-0.28, 95% CI: -0.58 to 0.01, Z=-1.866, P=0.062). CT resulted in less time to return to normal diet after surgery than ET, and the difference was statistically significant (SMD =-0.36, 95% CI: -0.60 to -0.12, Z=-2.918, P=0.004).

DISCUSSION

CT resulted in less intraoperative blood loss and faster postoperative recovery than ET, but there was no significant difference in operation time, postoperative pain, and the incidence rate of postoperative complications between the 2 groups.

Clinical Effects of Radiofrequency Coblation for Adult Laryngopharyngeal Vascular Lesions

OBJECTIVE

To explore the feasibility and efficacy of transoral radiofrequency coblation surgery (TRS) in the treatment of adult laryngopharyngeal vascular lesion (LVL).

METHODS

A total of 15 patients with LVL were retrospectively studied, including 11 capillary lesions and five cavernous lesions (there was one case with two separate lesions). All of the lesions were treated with TRS alone (capillary lesion) or with a combination of TRS and sclerotherapy (cavernous lesion). The treatment efficacy was evaluated according to the modified Achauer criteria: grade 1, no change in size; grade 2, a decrease of < 50% in size; grade 3, a decrease of ≥ 50% but < 100%; and grade 4, the disappearance of the lesion with no recurrence for at least 6 months.

RESULTS

The surgical procedures were successfully completed in all patients. According to the modified Achauer criteria, the treatment outcomes were grade 4 for 10 capillary lesions and one cavernous lesion; grade 3 for one capillary lesion and one cavernous lesion; grade 2 for one cavernous lesion; and grade 1 for two cavernous lesions, respectively. No complications related to the surgery, including bleeding, dysphagia, and infections, occurred after treatment.

CONCLUSION

The TRS is an effective treatment option for LVL, especially for patients with laryngopharyngeal capillary lesions.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 131:566-570, 2021.