"Tonsillectomies hurt. There's just no way around it," says E. Scott Elledge, MD, FACS. He has found that using Coblation technology, however, significantly reduces the post-surgery pain of his patients. "When you take out someone's tonsils, you have to separate the tonsils from the wall of the throat. Coblation is an instrument that allows you to technically cut the tissue, but it has an irrigator system on it so it doesn't get hot. "There are quite a few well-done studies that have shown that there is decreased pain on average, a quicker return to regular diet, and fewer calls to the doctors. Pain is always a hard thing to study, but I'm definitely convinced that on average, there's less pain. And I like the way the wound looks; it doesn't have the charred look. I've had more cases where people say, 'I was back in three days.' That never used to happen." Even recovery room nurses have noticed the difference. "Literally, I've had recovery room nurses tell me, 'Your patients don't hurt as much because you use Coblation,'" says Elledge. "They are telling the difference even in the recovery room." He says he is surprised that the technology hasn't caught on very quickly, but he also admits he doubted the claims at first too. "I put off trying it. In fact, both of my partners tried it before I did. When something new comes out, everyone tells you it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it isn't. So, I just didn't believe it. I didn't think there was anything to do to not make the tonsil hurt." He finally decided to try it, though, and now he's a believer. "I've been doing it about two years now, and I'm absolutely convinced that in my hands, it's helping my patients." He recognizes that there are still doubters among his colleagues, however. "I think one thing that holds some doctors back is that it is a little bit slower technique. Now that I've been doing it a while, I can do it just as fast as cautery, but certainly the first, probably, ten times you do it, it's going to take you longer. And that's an issue with some people. "You don't want to have bleeding after surgery," he continues. "That happens 1 to 2 percent of the time no matter what technique you use. A lot of people have been worried that this doesn't heat enough, but in my hands I haven't had any increased rates in rebleeds, and that's what the studies have shown; it's not statistically any worse." Elledge is so pleased with the results of Coblation that he has joined the speaker's bureau for the company that produces the technology. "The rep said 'I'm having trouble getting people to use it, would you mind talking about it?' I said, 'Sure. Look, I didn't believe it either. And now I'm telling you, in my hands, I like it.'"