Can you tell me about laser ablation as a alternative treatment to traditional surgery in an adult with chronic tonsillitis (bacterial)? Any idea about its success rate? If removing the surface area does not completly rectify the situation and infections persist, could surgery be performed later? Thank you for any insight you may have about this new treatment.
Reply: ---------------------------
Laser ablation of tonsillar crypts is a new surgical procedure advocated as a means of eliminating recurrent or chronic tonsil inflammation caused by debris accumulation in tonsillar crypts. It is an office-based procedure done under local anesthesia which reportedly is done in 2-4 sessions spaced a month apart. It is not painless, but can be considerably less painful than formal tonsillectomy and *probably* has less risk - the latter has yet to be determined scientifically. A recent review by Krespi published in late 1994 reported a 96% success rate described as complete resolution of chronic tonsil symptoms out of 120 patients who underwent the procedure.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
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