Abstract: Objective To compare the clinical efficacy between tonsillectomy by single pole electrotome and low-temperature plasma in the resection of hypertrophic tonsils in children with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome （OSAHS）. Methods A total of 60 children with OSAHS who were scheduled to undergo tonsillectomy were recruited and divided into the single pole electrotome （n = 30） and low-temperature plasma groups （n = 30）. The operation time, intraoperative hemorrhage volume, postoperative pain score, postoperative wound evaluation and falling time of white membrane were recorded and statistically analyzed. Results The 1-, 3-day postoperative pain score in the plasma group was significantly lower than that in the electrotome group （both P < 0.05）. The falling time of white membrane in the electrotome group was significantly shorter than that in the plasma group （P < 0.05）. The operation time, intraoperative hemorrhage volume and postoperative wound evaluation did not significantly differ between two groups （all P > 0.05）. No postoperative bleeding was observed in two groups. Conclusions Tonsillectomy by single pole electrotome and low-temperature plasma has respective advantages and disadvantages in the resection of hypertrophic tonsils in OSAHS children. The falling time of white membrane in the single pole electrotome group is shorter than that in the low-temperature plasma group. The low-temperature plasma causes less pain compared with the single pole electrotome. The single pole electrotome is more convenient than the low-termperature plasma.