Wedge turbinectomy: a new combined photocoagulative Nd:YAG laser technique
Laryngoscope. 2000 Jun;110(6):1034-6.
Wedge turbinectomy: a new combined photocoagulative Nd:YAG laser technique.
Vagnetti A, Gobbi E, Algieri GM, D’Ambrosio L.
Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Unit, Main Military Hospital of Rome, Italy. [email protected]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate that Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation using a combination of interstitial and contact approaches in the surgical treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy yields improved results in terms of postoperative nasal patency, complications, and relapse.
STUDY DESIGN: A group of 121 patients with symptoms of nasal obstruction due to hypertrophied inferior turbinates were treated between January 1994 and December 1997 at the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Unit of the Main Military Hospital of Rome using the wedge turbinectomy, a new endonasal laser technique.
METHODS: This is a combined photocoagulative procedure performed under local anesthesia. In the first surgical step we perform interstitial photocoagulation using Nd:YAG laser and in the second step we use a contact approach, making two strips of photocoagulated mucosa running side by side from the tail to the head of turbinate.
RESULTS: At 1-year follow-up, the complication rate in all our patients treated with this laser technique was very low and we achieved a steady improvement in nasal patency in 104 patients (85.9%). The relapse rate was approximately 14%, but we observed that 65% of the patients who experienced long-term failure were affected by allergic rhinitis.
CONCLUSIONS: An accurate preoperative evaluation of the cause of the turbinate hypertrophy is fundamental to achieving better results after laser turbinectomy and reducing the risk of relapse.
PMID: 10852526 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]