Nonsurgical Radiofrequency Volumetric Reduction of Adenoidal Hypertrophy

Objectives: Adenoidal hypertrophy (AH) is the most common cause of pathologic mouth breathing in children. Medical treatment of adenoid hypertrophy includes treatment of allergies, nasal sprays, and antibiotics. However, in some cases AH continues to produce symptoms despite maximal medical therapy. Potential risks of anesthesia and complications of surgical procedures have led to the promotion of non-surgical alternatives. During the past 3 years, advances in expertise and technology led to the new advent of using office based setting for nonsurgical procedures by the author as an innovative method for treatment of AH. Methods: Sixty five children who were definitive candidates for surgical adenoidectomy were managed with radiofrequency treatment under endoscopy control without any need of general anesthesia. The age range was between 4 and 15. All children underwent direct endoscopic examination of adenoid before and after procedure. Results: The period of follow-up was from 2 to 32 months. Patients experienced different degrees of improvement after nonsurgical procedure, according to a researcher-based questionnaire. The results were impressive for some parents because of marked improvement by very simple procedure as compared to surgery. Conclusions: Nonsurgical radiofrequency reduction of adenoid size has multiple advantages: excellent magnified view of adenoid area, accurate reduction of central obstructing part of adenoid, nonbleeding, evaluation and treatment of other nonadenoid obstructing problems, complete preservation of normal nasopharyngeal structures, no general anesthesia, no operating room stress, no hospitalization, high safety, no complications, and better patient tolerance using this fast and easy procedure.