Otolaryngology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Aim: This prospective study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of diode laser (810 nm) and electrocautery in treatment of nasal obstruction attributable to inferior turbinate hypertrophy as a comparative study. Introduction: Hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate is a common cause of chronic nasal obstruction. Etiology for mucosal turbinate hypertrophy includes chronic hypertrophic rhinitis both allergic and non-allergic rhinitis in which there is swelling of the sub-mucosa due to dilatation of the sub-mucosal venous sinusoid. A number of interventions are available for the treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy. An ideal procedure should be associated with minimal discomfort or adverse reactions and should preserve the physiological function of the turbinate. Materials & Methods: This prospective study was carried out in Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital/Department of Otolaryngology from August 2013 to November 2013. Fourteen patients who complained from nasal obstruction due to inferior turbinate hypertrophy were included in this study. Diagnosis was made by anterior rhinoscopy and fiberoptic examination. The turbinate hypertrophy in one side was reduced by using diode laser while the other side was reduced by electrocoagulation without telling the patient�s which side is treated by using the diode laser. We used both subjective symptoms and objective tests to assess the efficacy of diode laser (810 nm) and electrocautery in treatment of nasal obstruction attributable to inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Results: The symptoms of nasal obstruction, post-operative pain, crustation, bleeding, time of healing and complication were less with diode laser (810 nm) comparing with the electrocoagulation. Conclusion: Diode laser photocoagulation for inferior turbinate reduction is effective and well tolerated when used to treat patients with turbinate hypertrophy not responding to medical treatment.

Biography

Email: Adnan_khtan@yahoo.com