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Long‐term results after laser turbinectomy
Author(s) -
Lippert Burkard M.,
Werner Jochen A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1998)22:2<126::aid-lsm9>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - medicine , turbinectomy , surgery , otorhinolaryngology , laser surgery , turbinates , laser , head and neck surgery , nose , physics , optics
Background and Objective Different types of lasers have been used for reduction of hypertrophic inferior turbinates in recent years with good results. Reports about the long‐term benefits of the laser treatment are rare. Study Design/Materials and Methods: At the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kiel, from April 1987 to March 1997, 658 patients with nasal obstruction caused by hypertrophic inferior turbinates were treated with the CO 2 or Nd:YAG laser. Of these patients, 118 were able to be followed for a period of 5 years. Results After 5 years, 54 of 70 patients (77.1%) treated with the CO 2 laser were satisfied. The success rate after Nd:YAG laser surgery was 64.6% (31/48 patients). Severe intra‐ or postoperative complications were not observed. Conclusion The results suggest that the CO 2 and Nd:YAG laser surgical techniques are suitable for the treatment of hypertrophic inferior turbinates. The main advantages are the decreased bleeding risk and the fact that the operation can be conducted as an outpatient procedure. Lasers Surg. Med. 22:126–134, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.