Effects of low-temperature plasma treatment on pulmonary function in children with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea...

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology
• Pediatric Sleep Medicine
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a prevalent sleep disorder in children.
• The efficacy of low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation for OSAHS on lung function and quality of life remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of low-temperature plasma treatment on the pulmonary function of children diagnosed with OSAHS.
• To compare the outcomes of low-temperature plasma radiofrequency treatment versus routine surgical treatment in pediatric OSAHS patients.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 110 children with OSAHS, divided into two groups: low-temperature plasma radiofrequency treatment (Group A) and routine surgical treatment (Group B).
• Pulmonary function tests including maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), forced vital capacity (FVC), and total lung capacity (TLC) were conducted.
• Quality of life was assessed using the OSA-18 survey one year post-operation.

Main Results:

• Group A demonstrated a significantly higher effective treatment rate and experienced shorter operative times, reduced bleeding, and less postoperative pain compared to Group B.
• While both groups showed significant improvements in MVV, FVC, and TLC post-operation, there were no significant differences between the groups for these parameters.
• Group A reported significantly lower OSA-18 scores, indicating a better quality of life post-treatment.

Conclusions:

• Low-temperature plasma treatment is clinically effective for pediatric OSAHS, offering benefits such as reduced operative time, blood loss, and postoperative discomfort.
• The procedure leads to significant improvements in pulmonary function and enhances the quality of life for children with OSAHS.