Laser surgery for allergic rhinitis: the effect on seromucinous glands

Ten patients with perennial allergic rhinitis were subjected to CO2 laser turbinectomy. Tiny (1 mm3) biopsy specimens were taken at the time of surgery and 1 month thereafter. The biopsy specimens were processed for transmission electron microscopy. Also, the activity of succinic dehydrogenase and cholinesterase enzymes was measured. The study showed that laser turbinectomy was followed by reduction in the number and activity of the glandular acini in the laser-treated areas. This reduction is ascribed to the local destructive effect of laser energy on the glandular acini and on the surrounding cholinergic nerve fibers. The enzymatic activity of the cholinergic nerve fibers themselves, however, did not diminish, indicating that laser surgery has no inhibitory effect on the local allergic reaction.