[Optimizing laser therapy parameters in pharyngeal tonsil diseases in children]

In children, chronic inflammatory diseases of the pharyngeal lymphoid ring are the most common chronic nasopharyngeal diseases. Available therapies are not always effective, associated with an increase in treatment duration and possible complications and recurrences. Laser therapy (LT) techniques have long been successfully used in ENT practice, but they still need to be optimized and standardized.

To analyze treatment outcomes in children with chronic inflammatory diseases of the pharyngeal lymphoid ring in out-patient settings using standard methods of LT (by localization, technique, and time of laser exposure) with different lasers.

A total of 214 patients aged 1-15 years with chronic inflammatory diseases of the pharyngeal lymphoid ring were included in the study. The patients were divided into three main groups (1-3) and received LT using different lasers on the Lasmik device and a control group without LT. Parameters of laser radiation sources (groups) were the following: Group 1 wavelength (λ) 635 nm, pulsed mode (PM), pulse width 100 ns, pulse power (PP) 5 W, mean power (MP) 0.04 mW; Group2 λ=904 nm, PM, PP=5 W, MP=0.04 mW; Group 3 λ=635 nm, continuous mode, MP=15 mW. The outcomes were assessed by clinical improvement.

A comparative analysis of the comprehensive treatment outcomes showed significantly better outcomes in the 1-3 groups compared to the control group. A higher efficiency of pulsed low-intensity laser radiation (LIRI) in comparison with a continuous mode, mostly red spectrum (λ=635 nm, PM, MP=5 W) was shown. This laser exposure results in faster improvement and allows performing LIRI exposure percutaneously without using light guides, which require sterilization and are quickly degrading.