Tonsillectomy is the single most common operation performed in Ear Nose and Throat Department. Various methods of tonsillectomy have been practiced over the century aimed at reducing or eliminating intraoperative and postoperative morbidity. Due to various blood supplies received, intraoperative bleeding is the most difficult problem and securing it is time-consuming. The time taken to control the bleeding would invariably determine the length of operation. Common postoperative complications are bleeding and pain. This study evaluated the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain and other postoperative complications of tonsillectomy performed by laser as compared to conventional dissection technique. This is a prospective randomized study whereby sixty patients were divided into two groups of equal number. In one group, the tonsillectomy performed by laser and in the other group the tonsillectomy performed by conventional dissection technique. Operative time and amount of blood loss is significantly reduced in the laser group. Total postoperative pain and post operative complications were not significantly different between the two groups. Tonsillectomy by using laser have shown less intraoperative bleeding and shortened the operative time. In the hospital where laser machine and expertise are available, it is justifiable to use this technique as effective method of performing tonsillectomy.
Tonsillectomy ; Lasers ; Hemorrhage ; Dissection ; Postoperative Period

Allergic rhinitis is the single most common chronic allergic disease affecting an estimated four million people in Malaysia. House dust mites, grass pollens and fungal spores play has been identified to play a major role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. However, sensitization to pollen and spores in Malaysia is not well documented. On the basis of the results of an aerobiological survey of the common mold spores and pollens in the Klang Valley, twelve local extracts of molds and two local extracts of grass pollens were prepared by the Institute for Medical Research for this study. The study evaluated the prevalence of skin prick test (SPT) reactivity to the extracts of those airborne molds and pollens in allergic rhinitis patients in the Klang Valley. A total of 85 allergic rhinitis patients were recruited. All molds and grass pollens extracts tested, elicited positive response to SPT. Among the molds extracts, Fusarium was observed to have the highest prevalence of SPT reactivity (23.5%), followed by Aspergillus flavum (21.2%), Dreselera orysae (18.8%), Alternaria sp (17.6%), Curvularis eragrostidis (17.6%), Penicillium oxa (16.5%), Pestolotriopsis gtuepini (16.5%), Rhizopphus arrhi (16.5%), Aspergilluls nigus (15.3%). Penicillium choy (12.9%), Aspergillus fumigatus (11.8%), and Cladosporium sp (4.7%). In the grass pollen, the SPT reactivity to Ischaemum and Enilia is 14.1% and 5.9% respectively. However, the prevalence of SPT reactivity was not influenced by the age, sex, ethnicity, symptomatology and concurrent allergic condition. We have documented the prevalence of skin prick test reactivity to common molds and grass pollens in the Klang valley, which is comparable to the neighboring countries. Its prevalence in our allergic rhinitis patients suggests that it has a role in pathogenesis of allergic diseases. A larger representative sample involving multi-centric centers in Malaysia should be encouraged in the near future.
Mold, NOS ; Allergic rhinitis, NOS ; Prevalence aspects ; Malaysia ; Pathogenesis