title: Radiofrequency volumetric inferior turbinate reduction: long-term clinical results.
abstract: The aim of our study was to assess long-term results of radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction of inferior turbinates (RVTR). We performed a prospective long-term longitudinal evaluation of 305 patients affected by rhinitis (114 allergic and 191 non-allergic) who were unresponsive to medical treatment and underwent RVTR (January 2004 - December 2010). Subjects were followed for a mean period of 39.70 ± 19.41 months (range 24-60). Patients completed the NOSE-scale questionnaire pre- and post-operatively after 1 month and yearly for 5-years. Recurrence was assumed if the post-operative total NOSE score increased by at least 75% during follow-up and the patient restarted medical treatments. Estimation of relapse over time was performed by Kaplan-Meyer analyses. We documented overall good satisfaction of patients regarding the procedure, with a good rate of pain control and a low rate of complications. Post-operatively there was a significant improvement in nasal stuffiness, nasal obstruction and mouth breathing (p < 0.05). We observed a worsening trend for symptoms after 36 months with progressive increasing rate of recurrences that were significantly higher in allergic than non-allergic patients (p < 0.05). We also observed a slight worsening trend of global satisfaction of patients. Our study confirms the minor discomfort and low risk of side effects of RVTR. Our data showed good efficacy of the procedure in the majority of patients for at least 36 months after surgery, and in fact in this time period the cumulative probability to remain relapse-free was up to 0.8. In the following 2 years, we observed a worse temporal trend in term of recurrence rate, and in particular in allergic patients with a significant difference vs non-allergic individuals (p < 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery - Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Rome, Italy;
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Corso
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery - Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Rome, Italy;
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bastanza
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery - Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Rome, Italy;
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Donfrancesco
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care and Anesthesiology, Catholic University School of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy;
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Guidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care and Anesthesiology, Catholic University School of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy;
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morelli Sbarra
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery - Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Rome, Italy;
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Passali
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Catholic University School of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poscia
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Catholic University School of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Waure
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery - Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Rome, Italy;
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paludetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery - Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Rome, Italy;
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galli
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014420:Turbinates / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Epistaxis; Hypertrophy; Inferior turbinate; Local anaesthesia; Long-term results; Mouth breathing; Nasal obstruction; Non-allergic rhinitis; Radiofrequency; Relapse