Low temperature plasma removal of tonsils

We all know that the human tonsils are part of the human immune organs, because the tonsils can improve the body's immune function. If the human body develops some diseases, the tonsils will also warn the body at the first time. Some people will have their tonsils removed because their tonsils are infected and cannot recover. So is low-temperature plasma tonsillectomy a good method?

Tonsils are one of the largest lymph nodes in the body. They are a large warehouse for storing toxins, microorganisms, and indecomposed body waste from the nasopharynx and neck and shoulders. Therefore, inflammation of the nasopharynx will be accompanied by tonsillitis. Its inflammation proves that it plays a positive role, especially in childhood when tonsils have certain immune functions. After adulthood, tonsils gradually atrophy, but the tonsils of some people have not atrophied and are often inflamed, becoming "lesions" that are harmful to the human body. Some can also cause lesions in other organs of the body: such as snoring during sleep, apnea caused by mouth breathing, excessive hypertrophy leading to swallowing difficulties or slurred speech, or accompanied by nephritis, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic heart disease, myocarditis, etc. In this case, surgical removal is required.

Tonsillectomy has a history of more than a hundred years. From tonsillectomy to low-temperature plasma ablation, surgical methods and techniques have been continuously updated, the risks of surgery have become lower and lower, and there is almost no bleeding during the operation. Introduction to several surgical methods of tonsil surgery:

1. Tonsillectomy: It has the advantages of simple instruments, only a tonsillectomy knife and a tongue depressor, and short operation time. However, it is difficult to master this operation skillfully. Before surgery, you must understand the anatomy of the tonsils and be able to skillfully master the dissection method. Otherwise, if the squeezing method is used rashly, it will cause more tissue damage and even adverse consequences such as residual tonsils. The squeezing and cutting method is generally suitable for tonsils that are larger, more protruding and have less adhesions.

2. Tonsillectomy: It can be performed under general or local anesthesia. During the operation, a tonsil forceps is used to clamp the tonsils and pull them inward and upward to expose the mucosal folds between the free edge of the pharyngeal arch and the tonsils. The mucosa here is cut with a curved knife, and part of the mucosa between the pharyngeal palatine arch and the tonsils is cut backwards. Free the upper pole of the tonsil, then clamp it with a tonsil forceps, and then use a dissector to separate the tonsil from the surrounding tissue outside its capsule from top to bottom until it reaches the lower pole. Use the wire of the tonsil snare to snare the tonsils, cut off the pedicle at the lower pole of the tonsils, and remove the tonsils completely. Immediately after tonsil removal, use a large cotton ball to compress the tonsillar fossa to stop bleeding. If there is bleeding from a blood vessel, ligate it. The disadvantages of the surgery are that there is a lot of bleeding during the operation, and larger blood vessels cannot be visualized, especially the lower pole, making bleeding difficult to control.

3. Low-temperature plasma ablation: The principle is to use the energy generated by low-temperature plasma radio frequency to open the molecular bonds between cells at a lower temperature (40-70 degrees) to perform tissue removal, thereby avoiding damage to the tissue and greatly reducing the patient's pain and shortening the recovery period. This surgical method causes almost no bleeding during the operation. Since it is performed at a low temperature, the damage to the human body is minimal, the postoperative reaction is mild, and the pain is small. It is the most advanced method of tonsillectomy. However, this method also has its disadvantages. The pain is generally mild in the first 1-3 days after surgery, but more obvious pain will occur during the shedding of the white membrane 6-10 days after surgery.

According to the developmental characteristics of the children, Dr. Sun Xiaowei's team in our department adopted partial ablation for children who only had enlarged tonsils but no recurrent inflammation. This not only improved the children's sleep quality, but also preserved the normal function of the tonsils. Since the use of this technology, it has been recognized by the families of the children and is currently being actively promoted.