title: Patients with positive allergen test have less favorable outcome after endoscopic microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoscopic microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty is a newly developed surgical technique to treat patients with nasal obstruction. Although the procedure has been reported to be safe and effective, we tested the hypothesis that the prognosis might deteriorate with time in allergic rhinitis patients as identified by a positive allergen test in patients who have a persistent regional inflammation of the nose. We assessed the degree of nasal obstruction in a prospective cohort to investigate whether positive allergen test predicts outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 70 consecutive patients, the symptom of nasal obstruction was evaluated subjectively by a visual analog scale (VAS) and objectively by acoustic rhinometry using cross-sectional area of the second notch (CSA-2) and nasal cavity volume before operation, and 3 months, 12 months after operation, respectively. Then, patients were classified and compared according to the multiple-antigen simultaneous test (MAST).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both MAST(+) and MAST(-) groups showed statistically significant improvement in VAS score, CSA-2, and nasal cavity volume at 12 months after operation (p < 0.01). Of note, MAST(+) patients showed less favorable results than MAST(-) patients at 12 months after operation (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty provides effective relief for patients with nasal obstruction. However, such turbinate surgery may be successful only for a short period of time in patients with allergic rhinitis. Our finding suggests that, in selecting appropriate candidates, surgeons should consider criteria other than symptomatology, especially in patients with allergic rhinitis who may have manifestations other than at the level of the inferior turbinate contributing to nasal blockage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shiann-Yann
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chuan-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Te-Huei
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014420:Turbinates / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens