TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tonsillectomy patients in the Torrance, California area can put aside those tubs of ice cream, thanks to a novel surgical device. Daryl Rheuark, MD, MS, FACS and his team at South Bay Sinus are using Microline Surgical’s MiFusion ENTceps® to remove tonsils quickly and safely with minimal damage to nearby tissue and less post-operative pain compared with conventional devices.
While tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures, patients typically say it's one of the most painful. Dr. Rheuark understands, saying he's "always been turned off by the tear, rip, pack and burn tonsillectomy."
“Historically surgeons approached tonsillectomies with a ‘take no prisoners’ approach – rip out the tonsil, cram a pack in the site and then come back and mop up all of the bleeding,” said Dr. Rheuark.
Conventional devices used to perform tonsillectomies transmit electrical energy through the patient, which can damage surrounding tissue, as well as cause excessive bleeding and intense post-operative pain. As a result, it can take days or even weeks for a patient to fully recover and resume his or her normal life.
Dr. Rheuark has been using MiFusion ENTceps® for about six years. He notes how patients have experienced significantly less bleeding and post-operative pain following MiFusion ENTceps® tonsillectomies compared with procedures performed with controlled ablation and other technologies.
“What I’ve noticed with ENTceps® is fewer call backs for pain,” said Dr. Rheuark. “With other techniques, most patients would call two-to-three days after a procedure saying they felt miserable and requesting stronger pain medications. I haven’t received those calls since using ENTceps®.”
MiFusion ENTceps uses an advanced, proprietary technology, called Thermal Fusion (also known as Tissue Welding), to remove the tonsils and simultaneously seal the tissue from which they were removed. Tissue damage is minimal because the MiFusion ENTceps device uses only pure heat and pressure. This accounts for vastly improved patient outcomes. Studies have shown that patients who have undergone MiFusion ENTceps tonsillectomies experience less pain and bleeding compared with other surgical techniques.1,2
Dr. Rheuark has seen this first-hand with his own patients, including 81-year-old Joan R. of Torrance, California. Joan had experienced trouble breathing and underwent a tonsillectomy to alleviate her struggle. Dr. Rheuark performed a two-fold surgery called UPPP with tonsillectomy in which he removed Joan's tonsils, uvula and some of the soft palate with MiFusion ENTceps.
"Dr. Rheuark felt that by opening it all up it would help me with my breathing problem. I was so amazed because I felt there should be pain after the surgery, but I had absolutely no pain at all! I was a little tired, of course, but I was able to go about with my normal daily activities,” said Joan.
"Because of my age, my family was not enthused about me having the surgery, but it was a success. I feel it was definitely worth it. I am now breathing better."
For more information on the MiFusion ENTceps® tonsillectomy procedure, visit www.entceptional.com.
About South Bay Sinus of Torrance
Dr. Daryl R. Rheuark, MD, MS, FACS has specialized in adult and pediatric ear, nose and throat conditions since 1996. Please contact us at southbaysinus.com or by calling (310) 373-8777.
About Microline Surgical
Headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, Microline Surgical, Inc. is a leading U.S. medical device manufacturer of high-quality reposable surgical laparoscopic instruments. Founded in 1987, Microline is a wholly owned subsidiary of HOYA Corporation (7741:TSE) in Tokyo, Japan, a $4.5 billion company with approximately half of its revenues from medical business including endoscopy and eye care. Microline’s integrated modular laparoscopic instrumentation system consists of a selection of reusable handpieces that utilize a broad assortment of disposable tips. This concept allows for surgical efficiency and cost effectiveness to be preserved at all times. The company’s patented product portfolio comprises cutting, dissecting, grasping, cauterizing and ligating instruments used in all laparoscopic surgical procedures. For more information, visit www.microlinesurgical.com.
1 Stavroulaki P. et al. Thermal welding versus cold dissection tonsillectomy: A prospective, randomized, single-blind study in adult patients. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. August 2007.
2 Karatzias G. et al. Thermal welding versus bipolar tonsillectomy: A comparative study. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. June 2006.