title: Diode laser treatment of hyperplastic inferior nasal turbinates.
abstract: Background and Objective Different laser types have been used for the treatment of hyperplastic inferior nasal turbinates. The clinical experiences of its treatment by means of a diode laser are presented. Study Design/Materials and Methods A total of 76 patients suffering from nasal obstruction due to hyperplastic inferior nasal turbinates were treated with a continuous diode laser (wavelength of lambda = 940 nm, laser parameter 10 W/energy/turbinate 5 kJ) in "noncontact" mode and under local anesthesia. All patients were refractory to conservative medical treatment. Fifty patients (26 of 50 [52%] with allergic rhinitis and 24 of 50 [48%] with vasomotor rhinitis) were included into this clinical trial with a follow-up of 1 year. The study was conducted by a questionnaire, photo documentation, allergy test, mucociliary clearance test, rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry, conventional radiology of the paranasal sinuses, and histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean operation time took 6 min/turbinate, no nasal packing was necessary and no immediate complications (e.g., major bleeding) were observed. During the first 2-4 weeks, nasal obstruction was correlated to the extent of postoperative edema and nasal crusting. Statistical analysis revealed significant improvement of the nasal airflow (rhinomanometry) and nasal cavity volume (acoustic rhinometry) 6 months and 1 year after laser surgery, respectively. A total of 86% of the patients described a subjective improvement of nasal airflow 6 months and 76% of the patients 1 year after laser treatment. The mucociliary function test showed no significant variation in comparison to the preoperative measurements 1 year after laser treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diode laser treatment of hyperplastic inferior nasal turbinates is a useful procedure, which can be performed as an outpatient surgery under local anesthesia, resulting in a controlled coagulation and ablation of the soft tissue. The short operation time and the good results provide an excellent patient acceptance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janda
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sroka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tauber
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grevers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leunig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014420:Turbinates / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*