Diode laser treatment of hyperplastic inferior nasal turbinates

Background and Objective: Different laser types have been used for the trea tment of hyperplastic inferior nasal turbinates. The clinical experiences o f its treatment by means of a diode laser are presented. Study Design/Materials and Methods: A total of 76 patients suffering from n asal obstruction due to hyperplastic inferior nasal turbinates were treated with a continuous diode laser (wavelength of lambda = 940 nm, laser parame ter 10 W/energy/turbinate 5 kJ) in "noncontact" mode and under local anesth esia. All patients were refractory to conservative medical treatment. Fifty patients (26 of 50 [52%] with allergic rhinitis and 24 of 50 [48%] with va somotor rhinitis) were included into this clinical trial with a follow-up o f 1 year. The study was conducted by a questionnaire, photo documentation, allergy test, mucociliary clearance test, rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinomet ry, conventional radiology of the paranasal sinuses, and histology. Results: The mean operation time took 6 min/turbinate, no nasal packing was necessary and no immediate complications (e.g., major bleeding) were obser ved. During the first 2-4 weeks, nasal obstruction was correlated to the ex tent of postoperative edema and nasal crusting. Statistical analysis reveal ed significant improvement of the nasal airflow (rhinomanometry) and nasal cavity volume (acoustic rhinometry) 6 months and 1 year after laser surgery , respectively. A total of 86%. of the patients described a subjective impr ovement of nasal airflow 6 months and 76% of the patients 1 year after lase r treatment. The mucociliary function test showed no significant variation in comparison to the preoperative measurements 1 year after laser treatment . Conclusion: Diode laser treatment of hyperplastic inferior nasal turbinates is a useful procedure, which can be performed as an outpatient surgery und er local anesthesia, resulting in a controlled coagulation and ablation of the soft tissue. The short operation time and the good results provide an e xcellent patient acceptance. Lasers Surg. Med. 27: 129-139, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.