Long-term Result of Laser Surgery for Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

Since 1986 we have performed laser surgery to more than 200 patients with allergic rhinitis and obtained good result. However, long-term results remain obscure. Lately we conduct a questionnaire on these cases which received laser surgery more than two years ago. The subjects are 70 cases of the 96 cases (80%) for which laser surgery was effective excluding 26 cases whose address was unknown because of removal among 118 cases which received laser surgery between March, 1986 and March, 1991. Of the 70 cases, 50 cases (response rate 71%) responded to the questionnaire. The effectiveness of the therapy continued over the long period of time (26 months at the shortest, 62 months at the longest, 41.7 months on the average) in 38 (76%) out of 50 cases. However, recurrence was noted in 12 cases (24%). Regarding the recurrence, it tended to be seen frequently in the cases which were severe before surgery, but there was no correlation between the recurrence on one hand and the degree of improvement after surgery and age on the other.