title: Subjective comparison of Nd:YAG, diode, and CO2 lasers for endoscopically guided inferior turbinate reduction surgery.
abstract: Lasers using different wavelengths and delivery systems have been used to reduce the inferior turbinate mass when hypertrophic inferior turbinates obstruct the nasal airway. Different laser systems produce different laser-tissue interactions. This study presents a comparison between three laser systems: CO2, Nd:YAG, and Diode lasers for inferior turbinate reduction surgery, all performed under endoscopic control. A total of 46 patients were randomized into three treatment groups and followed for more than 1 year. Subjective and objective data were collected. Subjective impressions of improved nasal airway was achieved in 41% (Diode), 47% (Nd:YAG) and 57% (CO2) and was not statistically significant. There was more postoperative bleeding in the CO2 laser group, with 3 patients requiring tamponade. The CO2 laser procedure also took longer to perform. These results failed to show a significant difference between the different lasers for inferior turbinate reduction. Overall, the results were not impressive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Meir General Hospital, Kfar-Saba, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DeRowe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Landsberg
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Leonov
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katzir
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ophir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000601:surgery; D009354:Neodymium; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000209:etiology; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014420:Turbinates / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing; D015019:Yttrium
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium