E-ISSN 1658-7820
 

Review Article
Online Published: 05 Nov 2025
 


Efficacy of coblation versus bipolar diathermy techniques in tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Muteb Almutairi, Majed Ahmed Alali, Abdulmajeed Alotaibi, Nada Al-khater, Yazan Balkair, Elaf Alqurashi, Renad Alharbi, Naif Alobeily, Shahad Alaidaroos, Kholoud Alenezi, Osama Alharbi, Mohammed Fahad Alateeq.


Abstract
Tonsillectomy, the surgical removal of the tonsils, is a widely performed procedure for patients suffering from chronic tonsillitis and upper airway obstruction due to enlarged tonsils. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis comparing coblation and bipolar diathermy techniques in adult tonsillectomy to see which one has a better outcome for the patient with fewer complications. This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO. Primary outcomes (hemorrhage rates, pain scores), secondary outcomes (return to theatre, analgesia use, intraoperative bleeding, diet return time, healing, operation time), and follow-up duration. Five studies were identified, enrolling a total of 335 patients. In comparison to bipolar diathermy, coblation showed continuously decreased levels of postoperative pain, with a substantial reduction on day 1 (SMD = -0.61, p<0.0001), day 2 (SMD = -0.83, p-value=0.002), and day 3 (SMD = -1.07, p-value=0.008). The rates of secondary bleeding were similar for both methods (RR = 0.98, p-value=0.95). Tonsillar healing was accelerated by coblation, taking an average of 13.3 days as opposed to 20 days for bipolar diathermy. Patients who underwent coblation had shorter operating times (7.97 vs. 11.67 minutes) and needed to take analgesics for fewer days (8.24 vs. 9.19 days). Patients with coblation also had less intraoperative blood loss. Coblation technique showed significant advantages compared to bipolar diathermy in reduced postoperative pain, faster recovery, and improved secondary outcomes, while both of them maintain similar safety regarding hemorrhage, blood loss, and return to theatre.

Key words: Coblation, bipolar diathermy, tonsillectomy, postoperative pain, systematic review


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Almutairi M, Alali MA, Alotaibi A, Al-khater N, Balkair Y, Alqurashi E, Alharbi R, Alobeily N, Alaidaroos S, Alenezi K, Alharbi O, Alateeq MF. Efficacy of coblation versus bipolar diathermy techniques in tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. IJMDC. 2025; 9(10): 2519-2529. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756454824


Web Style

Almutairi M, Alali MA, Alotaibi A, Al-khater N, Balkair Y, Alqurashi E, Alharbi R, Alobeily N, Alaidaroos S, Alenezi K, Alharbi O, Alateeq MF. Efficacy of coblation versus bipolar diathermy techniques in tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=280539 [Access: December 09, 2025]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756454824


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Almutairi M, Alali MA, Alotaibi A, Al-khater N, Balkair Y, Alqurashi E, Alharbi R, Alobeily N, Alaidaroos S, Alenezi K, Alharbi O, Alateeq MF. Efficacy of coblation versus bipolar diathermy techniques in tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. IJMDC. 2025; 9(10): 2519-2529. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756454824



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Almutairi M, Alali MA, Alotaibi A, Al-khater N, Balkair Y, Alqurashi E, Alharbi R, Alobeily N, Alaidaroos S, Alenezi K, Alharbi O, Alateeq MF. Efficacy of coblation versus bipolar diathermy techniques in tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. IJMDC. (2025), [cited December 09, 2025]; 9(10): 2519-2529. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756454824



Harvard Style

Almutairi, M., Alali, . M. A., Alotaibi, . A., Al-khater, . N., Balkair, . Y., Alqurashi, . E., Alharbi, . R., Alobeily, . N., Alaidaroos, . S., Alenezi, . K., Alharbi, . O. & Alateeq, . M. F. (2025) Efficacy of coblation versus bipolar diathermy techniques in tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. IJMDC, 9 (10), 2519-2529. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756454824



Turabian Style

Almutairi, Muteb, Majed Ahmed Alali, Abdulmajeed Alotaibi, Nada Al-khater, Yazan Balkair, Elaf Alqurashi, Renad Alharbi, Naif Alobeily, Shahad Alaidaroos, Kholoud Alenezi, Osama Alharbi, and Mohammed Fahad Alateeq. 2025. Efficacy of coblation versus bipolar diathermy techniques in tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 9 (10), 2519-2529. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756454824



Chicago Style

Almutairi, Muteb, Majed Ahmed Alali, Abdulmajeed Alotaibi, Nada Al-khater, Yazan Balkair, Elaf Alqurashi, Renad Alharbi, Naif Alobeily, Shahad Alaidaroos, Kholoud Alenezi, Osama Alharbi, and Mohammed Fahad Alateeq. "Efficacy of coblation versus bipolar diathermy techniques in tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 9 (2025), 2519-2529. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756454824



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Almutairi, Muteb, Majed Ahmed Alali, Abdulmajeed Alotaibi, Nada Al-khater, Yazan Balkair, Elaf Alqurashi, Renad Alharbi, Naif Alobeily, Shahad Alaidaroos, Kholoud Alenezi, Osama Alharbi, and Mohammed Fahad Alateeq. "Efficacy of coblation versus bipolar diathermy techniques in tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 9.10 (2025), 2519-2529. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756454824



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Almutairi, M., Alali, . M. A., Alotaibi, . A., Al-khater, . N., Balkair, . Y., Alqurashi, . E., Alharbi, . R., Alobeily, . N., Alaidaroos, . S., Alenezi, . K., Alharbi, . O. & Alateeq, . M. F. (2025) Efficacy of coblation versus bipolar diathermy techniques in tonsillectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 9 (10), 2519-2529. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1756454824





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