Transient bacteremia during coblation-assisted tonsillotomy in children ​

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Background/aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of transient bacteremia after coblation-assisted intracapsular partial tonsillectomy (tonsillotomy) in children. Materials and methods: This prospective study included 42 children with grade 3–4 tonsillar hypertrophy who underwent coblation-assisted tonsillotomy for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Aerobic and anaerobic blood cultures were obtained preoperatively and immediately after tonsillotomy. Intraoperative throat cultures were also obtained before mucosal manipulation. Results: All preoperative blood cultures were negative. Postoperative blood cultures were positive in two patients (4.8%; 95% CI, 0.6%– 16.2%). Streptococcus pyogenes and Actinomyces spp. were isolated. The patient with S. pyogenes bacteremia also had S. pyogenes in the corresponding throat culture. No clinical complications related to transient bacteremia were observed. Conclusion: This is the first study on evaluation of transient bacteremia after coblation-assisted tonsillotomy. Although the technique is minimally invasive, transient bacteremia occurred in 4.8% of the children. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered individually in patients at high risk for bacteremia-related complications, in accordance with current recommendations.