Blood loss reduction during laser turbinectomy.
The use of a combination of topical and injected anaesthetic and vasoconstrictive agents is widely applied in rhinological practice. To prepare the nose prior to a laser inferior turbinectomy under combined general and local anaesthetic, we routinely spray the nose with 1:1000 epinephrine and inject 2% xylocaine with 1:80.000 epinephrine into each inferior turbinate. With the current climate tending towards evidence based medicine, we were keen to show that our technique of pre-operative nasal preparation was effective. A randomised, double blind, prospective study was carried out, with patients acting as their own control. We found that the injection of 2% xylocaine with 1:80.000 epinephrine did not confer any additional benefit, in terms of blood loss or post-operative pain, in the treatment of these patients. The inferior turbinate that was injected bled more during the procedure than the non-injected side; there was no difference in post-operative discomfort between the 2 sides.
Temple
R H
RH
Department of Otolaryngology, Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 3LR United Kingdom. r.temple@talk21.com
Timms
M S
MS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014420:Turbinates / Q000601:surgery*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D008012:Lidocaine; D004837:Epinephrine