Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T06:06:20.280Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Bismuth subgallate: a safe means to a faster adeno—tonsillectomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

P. J. Wormald
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa.
S. L. Sellars*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa.
*
Professor S. L. Sellars, Department of Otolaryngology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory 7925, Cape Town, South Africa.

Abstract

Tonsillectomy, with or without adenoidectomy, is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures and as such contributes significantly to the surgery performed by GPs and ENT surgeons. In this randomized controlled study we compared the use of a compound bismuth subgallate (BSG) during adeno-tonsillectomy with the standard operations.

Two hundred and two tonsillectomies were randomized into two groups. BSG was used in 90 patients while the other 112 patients were used as controls. The mean operating time was reduced from 11.5 to 9.9 minutes, the number of swabs from 4.5 to 3.7 and number of ties from 3.4 to 2.1. All these reductions were significant (p-values all <0.05). There were no post-operative complications in either group. Thus the use of BSG during adeno-tonsillectomy or tonsillectomy alone significantly decreases the operating time and results in less intraoperative haemorrhage with fewer ties and swabs being required.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Brodsky, L. (1989) Modern assessment of tonsils and adenoids. Paediatric Clinics of North America 36: 15511569.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Handler, S., Miller, L., Richmond, K., Baranak, C. (1986) Posttonsillectomy haemorrhage: incidence, prevention and management. Laryngoscope 96: 12431247.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Roy, A., De la Rosa, C., Vecchio, Y. (1976) Bleeding following tonsillectomy. A study of electrocoagulation and ligation techniques. Archives of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery 102: 910.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mann, D., St George, C., Scheiner, E., Granoff, D., Imber, P., Mlynarczyk, A. (1984) Tonsillectomy - some like it hot. Laryngoscope 94: 677679.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maniglia, A., Kushner, H., Cozzi, L. (1989) Adeno-tonsillectomy. A safe outpatient procedure. Archives of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery 115: 9294.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Telian, S., Handler, S., Fleisher, G., Baranak, C., Wetmore, R., Potsic, W. (1986) The effect of antibiotic therapy on recovery after tonsillectomy in children. Archives of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery 112: 610615.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thorisdottir, H., Ratnoff, O., Maniglia, A. (1988) Activation of the Hageman factor (factor XII) by bismuth subgallate, a haemostatic agent. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine 112: 481486.Google Scholar