Advantages of Endoscopic Coblator Assisted Adenoid Removal

Adenoids are glandular tissue and are part of the immune system. They hang from the upper part of the back of the nasal cavity. You cannot see your adenoids. An x-ray is done to determine the size of the adenoids.

Adenoids help to defend the body from infection. They trap bacteria and viruses which you breathe in through your nose; they contain cells and antibodies of the immune system to help prevent throat and lung infections.

Although adenoids may help to prevent infection, they are not considered to be very important. The body has other means of preventing infection and fighting off bacteria and viruses. In fact, the adenoids tend to shrink after early childhood, and by the teenage years they often almost disappear completely. Generally, you can have your adenoids removed without increasing your risk of infection.

Traditionally blind curetting of adenoidal tissue was times tested method but leaves behind large amounts of adenoidtissue causing air flow obstruction. Endoscopic coblation adenoidectomy ensures complete removal of adenoid tissue and reduces postoperative adenoid grade. Another benefit is the ability to use a single instrument to ablate and coagulate tissue, with significant improvement of patient recovery. It can also reach the cranial portion of the adenoid and its intranasal extension.

The advantages observed with coblation adenoidectomy, compared with the curettage technique are:

1. the lack of bleeding (abundant bleeding with curettage);
2. provides a direct endoscopic view of the adenoid (blind surgery or mirror view with traditional cold curettage);
3. the ability to reach all the areas of the rhinopharynx up to the Eustachian tube opening (the cranial part of the rhinopharynx cannot be reached with curettage);
4. lower risk of residual adenoid tissue after coblator surgery;
5. fewer complications (no cutting blade with coblation adenoidectomy);
6. it is suitable for patients of all ages, although the decrease of pain intensity and duration is important in paediatric patients;
7. reduction in the use of post-operative drug and loss of working days for parents due to faster post-surgical healing.