Abstract

Tonsillectomy, the surgical removal of the tonsils, is a widely performed procedure for patients suffering from chronic tonsillitis and upper airway obstruction due to enlarged tonsils. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis comparing coblation and bipolar diathermy techniques in adult tonsillectomy to see which one has a better outcome for the patient with fewer complications. This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO. Primary outcomes (hemorrhage rates, pain scores), secondary outcomes (return to theatre, analgesia use, intraoperative bleeding, diet return time, healing, operation time), and follow-up duration. Five studies were identified, enrolling a total of 335 patients. In comparison to bipolar diathermy, coblation showed continuously decreased levels of postoperative pain, with a substantial reduction on day 1 (SMD = -0.61, p

Key words: Coblation, bipolar diathermy, tonsillectomy, postoperative pain, systematic review