Outcome assessment in patients with chronic obstructive rhinitis CO2 laser treated

Abstract

Surgical lasers have been used to restore nasal flow in chronic obstructive rhinitis, with a significant improvement in symptoms having been reported in almost all cases. However, evidence supporting the efficacy at long-term, and studies on the assessment of quality of life remain limited. In the present study, efficacy at long term and improvement in the quality of life were assessed in patients with chronic obstructive rhinitis, treated with CO2 laser. A total of 308 patients with chronic obstructive rhinitis were enrolled. The primary outcome measure assessed was the change in score regarding specific and general symptoms, between baseline to 2-4.5 and 7.8 mean years follow-up. Laser turbinotomy restored nasal flow and induced a change in total score which was statistically significant, for specific and general symptoms at the first, second and third follow-up, p < 0.01. CO2 laser turbinate surgery improved symptoms and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive rhinitis as observed at 2-4.5 and 7.8 mean years follow-up.

Fig. 1

Custom self-retaining nasal speculum allows surgeon to have both hands free, making laser treatment easier to perform and in less time.

Fig. 2

CO₂ laser cuts tissue and makes a groove along superomedial border of inferior turbinate from anterior to posterior end along entire length.

Fig. 3

Decrease in total airway resistance in patients with chronic obstructive rhinitis following CO₂ laser treatment, at first, second and third follow-up.

Fig. 4

Mean specific (o) and general (■) symptom scores recorded in 140 hypertrophic rhinitis patients before, at mean 2, 4.5 and 7.8 years after laser turbinotomy.

Fig. 5

Fig. 5. Mean specific (o) and general (■) symptom scores recorded in 168 allergic rhinitis patients before, at mean 2, 4.5 and 7.8 years after laser turbinotomy.

Fig. 6

Overall quality of life evaluation expressed as mean of specific and general symtoms for a total of 8 items for hypertrophic rhinitis (*) and 11 items for allergic rhinitis (•) patients, before, at mean 2, 4.5 and 7.8 years after CO₂ laser turbinotomy.