Hydrogen Peroxide 3%: Is it Beneficial in Tonsillectomy?

OBJECTIVES The world over, tonsillectomy is one of the operations most frequently performed by otolaryngologists, who are in search of a technique of tonsillectomy where the operation time and operative blood loss is reduced. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of hydrogen peroxide 3% on tonsillectomy times, blood loss during the surgery and on the number of ties used. METHODS A pilot study of 30 patients was carried out in the Department of Otolaryngology of Basrah General Hospital, Iraq, in the period from February to July 2006. Tonsillectomy was performed using hydrogen peroxide 3% as a haemostatic agent in Group A (n = 15), while in Group B (n = 15) no agent was used with the gauze pack. RESULTS The application of hydrogen peroxide 3% in the tonsillar fossae reduced the operation time by 31%, the operative blood loss by 32.9% and also reduced the number of ties used by 50% in Group A. All these results are statistically significant. CONCLUSION The local application of 3% hydrogen peroxide on the tonsillar bed after tonsillectomy is beneficial in regard to decreasing the procedure time, the volume of blood loss, and the number of ties used.