Bipolar radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy of turbinate hypertrophy: pilot study and 20 months' follow-up.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The present report is a pilot clinical study about a new bipolar ablation technique for the treatment of turbinate hypertrophy, which offers an alternative to conventional methods.

STUDY

DESIGN

Prospective, clinical.

METHODS

From August 1999 to March 2000, a new bipolar radiofrequency system with acoustic feedback control was submucosally applied for the treatment of 38 patients with nasal airway obstruction of vasomotor (n = 31) or allergic (n = 7) genesis. The therapy was made ambulatory with surface anesthesia. Data were collected by questionnaire and rhinomanometry preoperatively and 2 and 20 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

Nearly all patients reported an improvement of their nasal breathing, with 68% of them reporting a full and 29% a partial recovery. No significant differences were reported with regard to the response of the allergic versus the vasomotor rhinitis. On average, a definite benefit was observed after 2 weeks. Side effects, such as bleeding, synechia, or atrophic changes of the mucosa, which would have to be treated, were not observed.

CONCLUSION

The new bipolar radiofrequency thermotherapy presents an efficient option for the treatment of turbinate hypertrophy, which meets the requirements for an outpatient treatment.