Argon plasma coagulation for inferior turbinate reduction

Surgical reduction of the inferior turbinate remains a widely used therapy for nasal obstruction caused by hyperplastic turbinates. Current methods ar e costly and time-consuming, require nasal packing, and cause extended post operative swelling. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a new, innovative tec hnique in otorhinolaryngological surgery that is based on high-frequency el ectrical current. The current is transmitted through ionized argon gas (pla sma) contact-foe to the tissue surface and creates a coagulation and devita lization zone with limited penetration. Forty-five patients with nasal obst ruction were treated under local anesthesia for reduction of the inferior t urbinates with APC. Seventy-six percent of the patients reported an improve ment of postoperative swelling within the first week. After 3 months, 86% r eported having better nasal airflow than they had before the operation. Mac roscopically, after 4 weeks the turbinate was covered by normal mucosa in 5 1% of the patients. Crust formation was minimal, and no bleeding occurred. Turbinate reduction with APC is an alternative technique with many advantag es, and the results are comparable to those of standard techniques. Ninety- five percent of the patients were satisfied with the operation.