CO₂ laser surgery for allergic rhinitis

Abstract

The effects of CO₂ laser surgery on perennial allergic rhinitis patients were studied in 58 cases. The bilateral inferior turbinates were vaporized under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. Such vaporization was performed biweekly a total of three times as a rule. Laser surgery was effective in 53% for sneezing symptoms, in 41% for nasal discharge, in 74% for nasal obstruction and in 83% for overall nasal symptoms at one month after surgery. The nasal resistance score also significantly decreased after surgery. The effective rates in patients with 2+ symptoms or higher were 92% for sneezing, 68% for nasal discharge and 82% for nasal obstruction. A remarkable effect was observed more often in cases with 3+ symptoms than is cases with 2+ symptoms. A recurrence of nasal symptoms occurred in 13% for sneezing, 47% for nasal discharge and in 28% for nasal obstruction during the 11 months following treatment. Based on these findings, CO₂ laser surgery is thus considered to be an effective treatment which is easy to perform for perennial allergic rhinitis, but this effect often show a limited effect over time. Additional vaporization is thus recommended in cases demonstrating recurrence.