Coblation Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy (or adenotonsillectomy when performed together) is an alternative way to remove both the tonsils and adenoids. This innovative surgery results in very little pain and fast recovery for patients.

Derived from the term "controlled ablation," Coblation removes or ablates tonsil tissue with little harm to surrounding healthy tissue.

Coblation is not a heatdriven process, therefore it does not char or burn healthy tissue like conventional electrosurgery and laser surgery. It combines bipolar radiofrequency energy with a natural saline solution to gently and precisely remove tissue leading to a fast and easier recovery.

Coblation technology has been used in more than 4 million surgeries, including more than 500,000 ear, nose and throat surgeries.

Older ways of removing the tonsils and adenoids include cutting with a scalpel or burning with electrocautery. These methods can cause extensive pain and may damage surrounding healthy tissue. Coblation is an advanced technology that combines bipolar radiofrequency energy with a natural saline solution to gently and precisely remove tissue leading to a fast and easier recovery.

Benefits of Coblation Tonsillectomy include:

•Fewer 'bad days' - Patients report a better overall experience with Coblation Tonsillectomy after surgery when compared to other procedures.

•Faster recovery - On average, patients return to a normal diet in 2.4 days after Coblation, versus 7.6 days after electrocautery.

•Less pain - Coblation Tonsillectomy has also been shown to decrease pain and use of pain medications after the procedure.

All adenotonsillectomy procedures have the same general risks; however, the risk of dehydration and weight loss are reduced with Coblation compared to electrocautery. Parents should consult a physician about the possible risks and complications that may result from a procedure involving general anesthesia.

Tonsils are areas of soft tissue on both sides of the throat. They help the body fight infection by filtering out germs that enter the body through the mouth and nose. There are other tissues like the tonsils that help filter out germs too. They are called the adenoids.

The adenoids also help the body fight off infection. The adenoids are the areas of soft tissue in the upper throat right behind the nose.

Sometimes the tonsils and/or the adenoids are so enlarged that they block the throat and breathing airway. This can cause difficulty breathing and other serious health problems. A child's doctor may call this condition tonsillar hypertrophy or obstruction.

While helping the body fight off germs, the tonsils and adenoids may also get infected. If the infection is great enough to cause inflammation, this condition is called tonsillitis.

Tonsillectomy is a surgery in which the tonsils are removed from the throat. An "adenoidectomy" is a similar surgery that removes the adenoids. In children, it is common to remove the tonsils and the adenoids at the same time. This procedure is called an "adenotonsillectomy."