Abscess Tonsillectomy à Tiède

Abstract

During recent years, primary tonsillectomy. tonsillectomy à claud, has again become popular as the standard therapy for the peritonsillar abscess, whereas the traditional tonsillectomy à froid, made 4-6 weeks after the incision, has been partially eclipsed. It seems, however, that the intermediate form between these two, tonsillectomy à tiède, an abscess tonsillectomy made 3-4 days after the incision, would be highly practical in many cases, compared with the other two mentioned above. The tonsillectomy à chand requires such a high state of readiness for anaesthesia, even during the emergency hours, that it is not practical in all otolaryngological departments. Tonsillectomy à tiède needs a longer hospitalization, yet requires fewer days off work than does the classical tonsillectomy à froid method. Furthermore, a significant proportion of the patients fail to present themselves for tonsillectomy at the agreed time and consequently get a recurrence of the disease later on. Tonsillectomy à tiède is almost as easy an operation as the normal tonsillectomy, both for the surgeon as for the patient.

During the years 1976-77, 153 cases of peritonsillar abscess were seen. 105 cases were treated with the tonsillectomy à tiède method. The average duration of treatment was 6 1/2 days. The only complications were 6 cases of light secondary bleeding. A tonsillectomy à chand was performed on 9 children in the age group 3-9 years.