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Laser-turbinectomy: long-term results

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Sven Lagerholm ,
Göran Harsten ,
Per Emgård  and
Bengt Olsson
Sven Lagerholm
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ystad Hospital, Ystad, Sweden.
Göran Harsten*
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ystad Hospital, Ystad, Sweden.
Per Emgård
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ystad Hospital, Ystad, Sweden.
Bengt Olsson
Affiliation:
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Ystad Hospital, Ystad, Sweden.
*
Address for correspondence: Göran Harsten, M.D., Ph.D., ENT Department, Ystad Hospital, S-271 82 Ystad, Sweden. Fax: +46-411-66220
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Abstract

Hypertrophy of the inferior turbinates is a common cause of nasal obstruction. Many cases respond to medical treatment with topical steroids or antihistamines. In some patients, however, this therapy is not sufficient and through the years many surgical procedures have been used to reduce the size of the inferior turbinates, but without any satisfactory long-term results. Furthermore, these procedures have often been painful to the patient and post-operative complications such as bleeding and crusting have not been uncommon. However, instead of conventional surgery of the turbinates, laser-surgery can be used to reduce their size. In order to investigate the long-term effect of such gross reduction of the turbinates we investigated the post-operative condition of 78 patients who had undergone CO2-laser-turbinectomy due to symptoms of nasal obstruction. Twenty-four to 36 months post-operatively three quarters of all the patients reported a marked decrease in nasal obstruction as well as a reduced frequency of nasal and sinus infections. No complications were reported and the procedure was without any discomfort to the patient. Thus, laser-turbinectomy seems to be an effective, simple and painless method for treatment of nasal obstruction due to hypertrophy of the inferior turbinates.

Keywords

Laser surgeryNasal obstructionTurbinatesSurgery, operative
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 113 , Issue 6 , June 1999 , pp. 529 - 531
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1999

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