title: Office CO2 laser turbinoplasty.
abstract: We conducted a prospective study of office carbon dioxide (CO(2)) laser turbinoplasty as a treatment for symptoms related to turbinate dysfunction in 58 patients. All patients completed surveys before and 1 month after treatment, and 23 patients completed longer-term follow-up surveys 8 to 24 months postoperatively. The 1-month postoperative assessments demonstrated a trend toward symptom improvement, as many patients reported a decrease in their use of pretreatment medications. Long-term benefit was achieved in 70% of patients. Ten patients underwent pre- and post-treatment biopsies, and histologic evaluation demonstrated minimal tissue alteration following treatment, alleviating concerns of physiological and functional compromise. We conclude that office-based CO(2) laser turbinoplasty is a useful tool for the treatment of disorders related to turbinate dysfunction. We describe one clinician's method of performing office CO(2) laser turbinoplasty, and we report his experience and findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. gsiege@gmail.com
authors.forename: Gordon J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: Kristin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Seiberling
authors.forename: Kenneth G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: Kenneth G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: Allison S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Aguado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014420:Turbinates / Q000601:surgery*