`Microwave Tonsillectomy' a Breakthrough Procedure to be Introduced To Surgeons for the First Time in the Annual Meeting of American College Of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in Washington, D.C.

PHILADELPHIA, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ACOMS) will hold its 21st annual meeting on April 18th in Washington, DC. One of the featured speakers, Dr. Mansoor Madani, will present a new technique, which reduces the tonsillar tissue volume without any cutting, bleeding or the intense pain associated with the traditional tonsillectomy. "This breakthrough procedure could help millions of people who suffer from chronic tonsillar infection, snoring and sleep apnea," according to Dr. Brian Smith, the Vice President of ACOMS. This year's American College is the first surgical meeting that the technique is being presented to other surgeons. The initial findings will be published in the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, adds Dr. Smith.

When Matt Hernandez, an aircraft technician, was told by his doctors that his swollen tonsils would have to be removed with an operation that would make him unable to work for several days, he wasn't too happy about it. "I was to expect lots of pain, a severe sore throat, bleeding and the possibility of being unable to return to work for at least one week after surgery," says Matt. He was much happier when he found out about a new procedure called Tonsillar Coblation, which is being performed for the first time at one of the major centers just outside Philadelphia.

According to pioneering surgeon and director of the Center For Corrective Surgery, Matt's condition is not uncommon. Patients who suffer from frequent tonsillar infections or their tonsils cause them to snore or obstruct their airway may need to have their tonsils removed. "We used the specially designed probes to heat the tonsils from within, rather than use it to remove them in total," says Dr. Madani. He has been using radiofrequency energy, similar to microwave energy, in other parts of the mouth and the nose to treat chronic nasal congestion and snoring. "By applying a mild amount of heat to these tissues, we noticed that their size gets smaller, just like when you put certain foods in the microwave they shrink. For those individuals who need it done, this is certainly a far more advanced and humane way to take care of our patients," adds Dr. Madani, an associate professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Temple University in Philadelphia.

The procedure is called Tonsillar Coblation; a radiofrequency probe generating mild heat is placed in three to four locations in the tonsils. The probe is kept in each position for 10-15 seconds. Most patients can have this procedure with either a local anesthetic or mild sedation, so no hospitalization is required. Patients are discharged with a prescription for antibiotics and a special mouthwash and a rinse. Best of all, patients can actually return to work immediately.

Unlike the traditional radical tonsillectomy, the Tonsillar Coblation is performed with local or mild sedation in the doctor's office within a few minutes enabling patients to resume their normal activity immediately after the procedure. "We believe that this new breakthrough technique, which reduces the size of enlarged tonsils without major discomfort, bleeding or lengthy hospital visit, will replace the traditional tonsillectomies in the near future. We will be bringing our findings to the scientific societies next and we are confident that it will be embraced as one of the greatest contributions to the medical field," adds Dr. Madani.

Radiofrequency has been used in the field of medicine for over one hundred years. It is being used in highly advanced cardiac surgeries, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery and urology as well as treating snoring, sleep apnea and chronic nasal congestion. The use of it for tonsillar debulking has not yet been reported in the literature.

Tonsils are the two lumps of tissue in the back of the throat on either side of the tongue, each about the size and shape of a large olive. They are barely visible in babies and most adults. Teenagers and some young adults may have larger tonsils. In the first two to three years of childhood, these tissues "catch" infections, sampling the individual's environment to help develop childhood immunities (antibodies). A medical study has shown that children who suffer from frequent episodes of tonsillitis (such as 3-4 times each year) were healthier after their tonsils were removed. Children who must have their tonsils and adenoids removed suffer no loss in their body resistance to infections.

As for Matt Hernandez, after his less than five-minute procedure, which was done under local anesthesia, he had his lunch and returned to work a few minutes after the procedure.