Abstract:ObjectiveTo explore the clinical effect of minimally invasive treatment for congenital pyriform sinus fistula (CPSF) of acute infection stage (AIS) and inflammatory quiescence stage (IQS) in children by low temperature plasma under microscopic laryngoscope.MethodsClinical data of 51 children with CPSF treated by low temperature plasma minimally invasive therapy in our hospital from Dec 2017 to Dec 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Of them, 22 cases were in the AIS and 29 cases were in the IQS. The fistula was closed by low temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation under general anesthesia and laryngoscope in both groups. For those of the AIS, incision and drainage of neck abscess was performed and followed by retained gauze and daily dressing change. All patients were kept gastric intubation for 2 weeks and treated with antibiotics for 7 to 10 days. The curative effect, recurrence rate and complications of the two groups were observed.ResultsThree patients in the IQS underwent incision and drainage of neck abscess on the 5th, 6th and 7th day after operation, and recovered after 4 days of dressing change. Two children in the AIS had transient postoperative hoarseness and got recovered within one month. The followup period ranged from 2 to 26 months. Fistula recurred in one patient of IQS half a year after operation, and got cured with the second cauterization of internal fistula by low temperature plasma under general anesthesia and laryngeal endoscope. The internal fistula of CPSF was closed once in the other 50 cases. In all the 51 cases, no complications such as pharyngeal fistula, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and massive hemorrhage occurred.ConclusionsLow temperature plasma minimally invasive surgery under microscopic laryngoscope is recommended as the preferred therapy for CPSF. For CPSF in the IQS, only internal fistula cauterization is needed with adequate preoperative information about the risk of neck abscess followed with incision and drainage of abscess as well as daily dressing change. For the treatment of CPSF in the AIS, fistula closure should be performed with simultaneous incision and drainage of neck abscess rather than the control of the acute inflammation.