Comparing Safety Profiles: Low-Temperature Plasma Excision vs. Traditional Adenoidectomy for Adenoid Hypertrophy.

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study compares the efficacy of low-temperature plasma excision and adenoidectomy performed under a nasal endoscope (NE) to treat adenoid hypertrophy (AH). The goal is to offer valuable insights and guidance for future treatments. Methods: We selected a cohort of 83 children diagnosed with AH admitted to our hospital between August 2019 and August 2022. The observation group included 45 children treated with low-temperature plasma excision under NE, while the control group consisted of 38 children treated with adenoidectomy under NE. We compared various parameters, including operative time, intraoperative bleeding, the time for white film disappearance, and the duration of hospitalization between the two groups. Additionally, we assessed levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nasal pharyngeal volume (NPV), total inspiratory resistance (TIR), and total expiratory resistance (TER). Pain and sleep were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Finally, we recorded perioperative complications in both groups. Results: No significant difference was observed in the time of albuginea regression between the two groups (P > .05). However, the observation group demonstrated shorter operative time, quicker dietary recovery, and reduced hospital stay compared to the control group (P < .05). After treatment, the two groups had no significant differences in NPV, TIR, and TER (P > .05). Nevertheless, the observation group exhibited higher levels of SOD and GSH-Px, while MDA, CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, VAS, and PSQI scores were lower (P < .05). Furthermore, the incidence of complications in the observation group was significantly lower than in the control group (P < .05). Conclusions: Low-temperature plasma excision performed under NE for AH demonstrates superior outcomes and improved surgical safety and is strongly recommended for the treatment of adenoid hypertrophy.