Cold Knife (Steel Dissection)
The cold knife is a method of removing the tonsils using scissors and knives. These tools dissect tonsils and their capsules from the surrounding throat tissues. Part of the removal is the inferior pole or the oropharynx.
For cold knife or steel dissection, anesthesia is induced in the patient. The patient is then put in oral intubation to help them breathe while the surgery is performed. Next, the tonsil is removed by extracapsular or total tonsillectomy and intracapsular or partial tonsillectomy.
When the tonsil is removed, food debris, particles, and bacteria accumulation will be lessened, preventing tonsil stones. When this procedure is done, the tonsils are removed partially. The cold knife is unsuitable for removing whole tonsils because it may cause bleeding and complications in the throat.
Cold knife or steel dissection is painful compared to other procedures such as electrocautery and coblation. Although this procedure is painful, the cold knife technique is done due to its non-postoperative bleeding.
