title: A comparison of laser cautery and sub-mucosal diathermy for rhinitis.
abstract: A randomized prospective trial was conducted to compare the efficacy of laser cautery against sub-mucosal diathermy to the inferior turbinates in 29 patients with rhinitis. Laser diathermy was performed using an arthroscopic fitment to a CO2 laser. Subjective and objective measurement of airway obstruction were performed, using a linear analogue scale and a nasal peak inspiratory flow meter, before operation and at 3 days and 6 weeks afterwards. In both groups there was a similar and significant improvement in subjective scores at 6 weeks (SMD from 3.6 to 1.8, P less than 0.01; laser from 3.9 to 2.1, P less than 0.001), but only the laser group was significantly better at Day 3 (SMD from 3.6 to 3.5, n.s.; laser from 3.9 to 3.0, P less than 0.05). In addition, there was significantly more general subjective morbidity at Day 3 in the SMD group (P less than 0.01). The objective scores improved equally in both groups but were not significant. We conclude that laser cautery of the inferior turbinate is a superior alternative to SMD for the treatment of rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: McCombe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D006801:Humans; D008028:Light Coagulation; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000601:surgery; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012223:Rhinitis, Vasomotor / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D014420:Turbinates / Q000601:surgery