Browsing by Subject "tonsillotomy"

Some medical procedures are expected to generate significant number of aerosols. Aerosol generation has been observed especially during use of drills, electrocauteries, and laser. The objective of this thesis was to study aerosol generation during two common paediatric procedure: adenoidectomy and tonsillotomy. Aerosol generation was measured with Optical Particle Sizer during procedures. Data of aerosol generation in empty and clean operation room and during voluntary coughing were used as reference. Procedures and used instruments were compared to references and to each other. Aerosol generation was measured during five combined adenoidectomy-tonsillotomy and two adenoidectomies. Significant number of aerosols was generated compared to background during both adenoidectomy and tonsillotomy (p < 0,001; p < 0,001). However, neither adenoidectomy nor tonsillotomy generated as much aerosols as voluntary coughing (p = 0,013, p = 0,018). Same applied to cold instruments and electrocauteries; significant number of aerosols was generated compared to background (p < 0,001; p < 0,001) but less than during voluntary coughing (p = 0,017, p = 0,017). Even though relative number of aerosols were generated during adenoidectomy and tonsillotomy, this study suggests that they should not be classified as high-risk aerosol generating procedures. In addition, both procedures are relatively short, approximately 4 minutes not including anesthesia steps and haemostasis. Thus, based on this study aerosol load to personnel during adenoidectomy or tonsillotomy seems to be small.