title: Predicting the outcome of submucosal diathermy to the inferior turbinates.
abstract: For many years it has been suggested that the subjective outcome of the operation of submucosal diathermy to the inferior turbinates (SMD) may be predicted by pre-operatively testing the ability of the nasal mucosa to decongest with topical vasoconstrictor agents. This study of 22 patients undergoing SMD, confirms that the pre-operative decongestion produced by xylometazoline is both a good subjective (P less than 0.001) and objective (P less than 0.002) predictor of outcome. If a significant reduction in nasal resistance is achieved by the application of topical decongestants, then the operation of SMD is likely to be effective.
authors: Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
authors: A S
authors: AS
authors: Jones
authors: R G
authors: RG
authors: Wight
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Kabil
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Beckingham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000601:surgery*; D012223:Rhinitis, Vasomotor / Q000601:surgery*; D014420:Turbinates / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D014663:Nasal Decongestants; C009695:xylometazoline