Abstract
Objective: In this study we aimed to compare the effects of submucosal cauterization of the inferior turbinate with or without inferior partial turbinectomy. Materials and methods: In this prospective cohort study, 60 patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy were randomized and divided into two groups. The first one was submitted to submucosal cauterization associated with partial turbinectomy, and the second one only submucous cauterization. Five items were assessed to compare both methods: pain, nasal bleeding, scarring, crustation and nasal air way patency. Follow-up was performed on days 1, 14, 30 and 3 months later. Results: In both groups crusting formation was similar. Reactionary hemorrhage was more common in turbinectomy group. Scarring showed better results in the turbinectomy group in the first month postoperative, airway patency showed good results in 80% of the patients with turbinectomy. Conclusion: Submucosal cauterization with inferior partial turbinectomy has yielded better nasal patency when compared to submucosal electrocautery ablation alone.
Highlights
Chronic nasal airway obstruction is one of the most frequent symptoms encountered by the otorhinolaryngologist
On the 1st day of post-op assessment, both groups did not show significant difference as far as nasal bleeding and pain. 6 patients (20%) of the group with partial turbinectomy presented with nasal bleeding that would require nasal packing and report pain that called for potent analgesia (Table 2)
On the first post-operative day, reactionary hemorrhage was observed in 6 patients (20%) who underwent partial inferior turbinectomy (PIT) with submucosal diathermy (SMD) and one patients underwent SMD, this result is contrary to Vishnu et al 2016 (3) who reported that the incidence of reactionary hemorrhage was (43.3%) in PIT alone and in (10%) patients who underwent SMD
Summary
We designed a prospective cohort study, recruiting 60 patients suffering from bilateral chronic nasal obstruction due to hypertrophied inferior turbinate. All the patients underwent a medical interview and complete otolaryngology/head and neck physical exam. Both rigid and flexible endoscopes were used to assess the nasal cavities and the nasopharynx, CT nose and paranasal sinuses were done for every patient. The needle was withdrawn slightly and a current of 50 joules was applied in a triangular fashion at 3 points (superior, medial and inferior) For PIT, the inferior turbinate was infilterated with 2% xylocaine + adrenaline up to the posterior end. The medial one-third of the anterior end of the inferior turbinate was resected. The patients were assessed on the 1st, 14th, 30th day and 3 months postoperatively
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