Consultant ENT Surgeon in Andheri, Goregaon, Malad.
Coblation tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy use low-temperature radiofrequency energy to dissolve (ablate) soft tissue while preserving surrounding healthy tissue. The technique is commonly used for children and adults with obstructive symptoms or recurrent infections, and it aims to reduce intraoperative bleeding, early postoperative pain, and tissue trauma compared with some traditional “hot” or “cold” techniques.
Recurrent tonsillitis: frequent sore throats despite medical therapy (typically ≥7 episodes in 1 year or ≥5 per year for 2 years). Obstructive sleep symptoms: loud snoring, witnessed apnoeas, restless sleep, or daytime sleepiness related to enlarged tonsils/adenoids. Chronic nasal obstruction, mouth breathing, or recurrent otitis media linked to enlarged adenoids.} Visible or documented airway obstruction on examination or sleep study. Indications for coblation adenotonsillectomy mirror those for conventional surgery: obstructive hypertrophy of tonsils/adenoids, recurrent or chronic infections unresponsive to medical care, peritonsillar abscess history, or significant impact on growth/behaviour from sleep-disordered breathing. The coblation technique itself is chosen for its method of tissue removal — controlled, low-thermal ablation — which may limit collateral damage.
Coblation adenotonsillectomy is performed under general anaesthesia. The surgeon uses a coblation wand to remove or debulk tonsil and adenoid tissue with simultaneous minimal coagulation. Recovery in hospital is usually short; many children go home the same or next day. Postoperative care focuses on pain control, hydration, and monitoring for bleeding. Compared with some other methods, coblation can reduce intraoperative blood loss and early postoperative pain, though long-term superiority is debated in the literature.
Maintain good hydration and encourage soft, easy-to-swallow foods for the first 7–14 days.Give prescribed analgesics regularly (not just PRN) and follow dosing instructions to control throat pain. Avoid aspirin and nonprescribed blood thinners for 2 weeks; avoid forceful nose blowing and strenuous activity until cleared. Watch for warning signs: persistent or worsening bleeding, fever >38.5°C, severe dehydration, or increasing difficulty breathing — seek immediate care if these occur. Follow-up with your ENT surgeon for wound checks and ongoing sleep/respiratory assessment if obstruction was the indication.