Carbon dioxide laser vaporization for turbinate: optimal conditions and indications.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser vaporization for turbinate has rapidly gained acceptance in Japan for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of laser output, patient age, and the presence of a deviated nasal septum on treatment outcome in patients with intractable allergic rhinitis.


METHODS
The inferior turbinates were irradiated at an output of 3 or 5 W for 0.1 s.


RESULTS
Of 67 patients, 43 (64.2%) were judged to have symptoms which improved markedly or moderately after a single treatment. Treatment was more effective with a laser output of 5 W than with an output of 3 W. However, treatment was judged less effective in patients aged 15 years or less than in older patients. The presence of a slightly deviated nasal septum had no effect on treatment outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Although assessing outcome on the basis of symptoms is difficult, we believe that these findings will suggest the optimal conditions and indications for laser surgery for allergic rhinitis.
Tanigawa
T
T
Department of Otolaryngology, Yoshida General Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
Yashiki
T
T
Hayashi
K
K
Sato
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000150:complications; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000002:abnormalities; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014420:Turbinates / Q000601:surgery*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide