Plasma adenotonsillectomy

    In recent years, with the increasing concept of trauma surgery, plasma surgery has been more and more widely used in otolaryngology. Currently, plasma surgery is showing its unique superiority in the resection of nasopharyngeal lesions and the resection of nasal cavity and sinus invagination papillomas. Plasma technology can contour the bone and completely remove the soft tissue from the surface of the bone in a way that traditional electrocoagulation resection cannot match. Of course, the most mature application is adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy. Zhang Liqiang, Department of Otolaryngology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University The general procedure of nasal endoscopic plasma adenoidectomy is as follows: The child is anesthetized with general anesthesia by tracheal intubation. The oropharynx is exposed with an opener, the upper pole of the tonsil is grasped with a tonsil grasper, the mucosa covering the upper pole of the tonsil is cut with a plasma knife to expose the upper pole of the tonsil, and the plasma knife is used to separate and cut the surface of the tonsil immediately to the vicinity of the lower pole of the tonsil. Then, the mucosa was incised from the inner side of the lower tonsil along the top of the tongue root and cut upward to meet with the aforementioned incision, and the tonsils were completely removed. The contralateral tonsil is removed in the same way. In some cases, the tonsils are completely removed by separating and cutting upward from the lower pole of the tonsil and pulling the upper pole of the tonsil downward when it reaches near the upper pole. The tonsillar trauma is examined with a 70-degree nasal endoscope, especially at the upper and lower tonsillar poles, which can be clearly visualized under the nasal endoscope. Hemostasis of suspected bleeding is performed with a plasma knife. The soft palate is pulled up with a thin suction tube and the 70-degree nasal endoscope is introduced from the oropharynx, bypassing the soft palate and revealing the nasopharynx. After identifying the posterior nostril, nasal septum, and bilateral pharyngeal round pillow, the adenoids are removed by ablation with the plasma knife. Special attention should be paid to the adenoid tissue at the posterior nostril to make sure that it is removed. Adenoid tissue in this area is the most important cause of nasal congestion. Bleeding is easy near the rounded occiput bilaterally and at the top of the nasopharynx at the upper edge of the posterior nostril. The bleeding needs to be stopped promptly. After the adenoids are removed and the bleeding is stopped, the tonsillar fossa is examined again to see if there is any bleeding. The suspected bleeding point is stopped again. End of surgery. Cold fluids on the day of surgery, fluids and semi-liquids for half a month after surgery. Usually, patients will still have mild snoring for 2-3 days after surgery due to swelling of the soft palate and tongue root, and most children will have significant improvement in symptoms about a week after surgery. However, the improvement of symptoms may not be satisfactory in overly obese children and children with receding jaws.    The advantages of nasal endoscopic plasma adenotonsillectomy are less intraoperative bleeding, shorter operation time, mild postoperative reaction and less pain during feeding. However, the plasma tip is more expensive, which limits its widespread use.