LASER-ASSISTED SERIAL TONSILLECTOMY

Laser ablation of the palatine tonsils is a useful alternative to tons illectomy in adults. Cryptic tonsillitis is a common problem causing r ecurrent infection, sore throat, and halitosis. Elimination and/or obl iteration of surface pockets (crypts) of the palatine tonsils utilizin g the CO2 laser was effective in 86 patients treated in the past 4 yea rs. Ablation of the tonsil surface was performed in stages under local anesthesia in an office setting; CO2 laser energy delivered through t he ''SwiftLase'' handpiece extension provided char-free, superficial l ayer ablation of tissue. ''SwiftLase' is easily installed onto existin g CO2 laser units and provides high-power densities by utilizing a foc used laser beam in an extremely fast uniform scan over an extended are a (up to 4 mm) within a fraction of a second. This method and results of its use are discussed.