Open AccessInferior Turbinate Surgery for Severe Allergic Rhinitis
Author(s) -
Kojima Yusuke,
Tsuzuki Kenzo,
Oka Hideki,
Takebayashi Hironori,
Sakagami Masafumi
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599812451426a397
Subject(s) - medicine , nasal discharge , nasal administration , nasal congestion , anesthesia , surgery , turbinates , outpatient clinic , local anesthesia , nose , immunology
Objective Inferior turbinate surgery, an outpatient surgery, is used to treat severe allergic rhinitis that is unresponsive to medication. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical effects of outpatient inferior turbinate surgery (OITS) on patients with severe allergic rhinitis. Method Between January 2008 and December 2011, we performed OITS bilaterally under local anesthesia for 216 patients with severe allergic rhinitis. Two kinds of cautery device, high‐frequency electrocautery and argon plasma coagulation, were used. Nasal symptoms and intranasal findings were evaluated pre‐ and postoperatively at 3 months or more after OITS. Results On average, scores for sneezing, nasal discharge, and nasal obstruction significantly improved from 1.3 to 0.8, from 1.7 to 1.1, and from 2.6 to 1.2 ( P <. 001, n = 216), respectively. Overall, improvement of symptoms was found in 73% (157/216 patients) postoperatively. Congestion of inferior turbinates also improved in 74% (160/216 patients). Conclusion These data indicate that the OITS had an effect on more than 70% of patients with severe allergic rhinitis.