title: Understanding submucosal electrosurgery for the treatment of nasal turbinate enlargement.
abstract: The surgical management of inferior turbinate enlargement is controversial. Submucosal electrosurgical techniques for turbinate reduction include conventional diathermy, radiofrequency tissue reduction and coblation. All electrosurgical techniques use radiofrequency electricity to damage turbinate tissue but differ in the control and delivery of energy. This review will examine the history of submucosal electrosurgery and clarify the various techniques. This review will also examine the evidence for the efficacy and safety of electrosurgery for the treatment of nasal turbinate enlargement, and will make a case that no progress will be made in clinical trials on the safety and efficacy unless there is standardisation of equipment and techniques in nasal electrosurgery.
authors.affiliation: Common Cold Centre, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: S E J
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Farmer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eccles
mesh_terms: D003972:Diathermy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000601:surgery*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000601:surgery*; D014420:Turbinates / Q000601:surgery*