Cryosurgery on postganglionic fibers (posterior nasal branches) of the pterygopalatine ganglion for vasomotor rhinitis.

Clinical experience with a newly designed device for cryosurgery on autonomic nerves in cases of vasomotor rhinitis is reported. The device consists of a handy spray of liquid nitrogen and a slender probe 2.5 mm in diameter. The posterior nasal branches of the pterygopalatine ganglion were destructed by freezing for 5-8 sec with a jet of supercooled nitrogen gas delivered onto the pterygopalatine foramen under anesthesia with 4% lidocaine. Satisfactory results were obtained by this procedure in 77 of 102 cases of vasomotor rhinitis which had failed to respond to antihistaminics. This original technique of cryosurgery which is not time-consuming and can be performed on an ambulatory basis will prove useful in clinical practice.