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Radiofrequency Volumetric Tissue Reduction (RFVTR) of Inferior Turbinates: A New Method in the Treatment of Chronic Nasal Obstruction

2000; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 14; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2500/105065800779954257

1539-6290

Yvonne Fischer, Jan Gosepath, Ronald G. Amedee, Wolf J. Mann,

Collagen: Extraction and Characterization

Twenty-two Caucasians (16 male and 6 female) with chronic bilateral nasal obstruction due to hypertrophic inferior turbinates were followed up over a three-month period. They were assessed by clinical examination, as active anterior rhinometry, and acoustic rhinometry before and after topical decongestion, preoperatively and three months after surgery. All patients were treated by application of radiofrequency-volumetric-tissue reduction (RFVTR, or somnoplasty) to both inferior turbinates. Initial postoperative edematous response disappeared during the first week after RFVTR. Three months postoperatively 20 of 22 patients (91%) reported subjective improvement of nasal patency. The average cross-sectional area for both sides of the nasal cavity (measured at the head of the inferior turbinate (C-Notch) before decongestion) increased in 15 of 22 patients (68.2%). This means a significant improvement from 1.24 to 1.49 cm 2 for both sides of the nasal cavity (p = 0.0054). We conclude that RFVTR can safely reduce turbinate volume in a precise manner in patients with nasal obstruction due to hypertrophic inferior turbinates.