Preliminary dynamic observation of wound healing after low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation for laryngeal leukoplakia

Abstract

Background

Low-temperature plasma ablation (LTPA) is an emerging technique for laryngeal leukoplakia (LL).

Objective

To initially observe the healing process of trauma after LTPA for LL.

Materials and methods

Seventeen patients who underwent LTPA for LL were collected, and the degrees of wound healing were analyzed.

Results

Only 1 patient in who dysbiosis of the pharyngeal flora was induced by self-administered hormone nebulization treatment during the follow-up period. In the remaining patients, the wound healing was characterized by a crater-shaped defect on the vocal folds surface with pseudo-membranes, congestion, and mild edema on postoperative day 1. These symptoms became worse on postoperative day 7. On postoperative day 15, the pseudo-membrane was fully formed and some patients had granulomatous swelling of the vocal cords. These symptoms became better and better on postoperative day 30 and day 45. On postoperative day 60, the mucosa of the vocal folds had essentially returned to normal. On postoperative day 90, the vocal folds morphology and function had recovered well.

Conclusion

It takes 2–3 months for the wound to heal completely after LTPA for LL.

Significance

A proper understanding of the wound healing process can reduce unnecessary surgical and pharmacologic interventions and avoid excessive treatment.

Chinese Abstract

背景：低温等离子消融（LTPA）是治疗喉白斑（LL）的新兴技术。

目的：初步观察 用LTPA治疗LL后外伤的愈合过程。

材料与方法：招集17名接受 LTPA 治疗的 LL患者, 并分析伤口愈合的程度。

结果：随访期间仅1例患者因自行给药激素雾化治疗导致咽部菌群失调。其余患者的伤口愈合特点是, 声带表面有火山口状缺损, 术后第1天带有假膜、充血和轻度水肿。这些术后症状在术后第7天加重。术后第15天, 假膜完全形成, 部分患者出现声带肉芽肿肿胀。这些症状在术后第 30 天和第 45 天逐渐好转。术后第 60 天, 声带黏膜基本恢复正常。术后第90天, 声带形态和功能恢复良好。

结论： 用LTPA治疗LL后伤口需要2-3 个月才能完全愈合。

意义：正确了解伤口愈合过程可以减少不必要的手术和药物干预, 避免过度治疗。

Keywords:

• Low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation
• Laryngeal leukoplakia
• Wound healing

Disclosure statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.