[Long-term results after argon plasma coagulation (APC) inferior turbinates reduction]

Interior turbinate hypertrophy is one of the major causes of nasal airway obstruction. Medical treatment often produces insufficient improvements. In these cases, surgical reduction of inferior turbinates can be proposed. Authors analyzed long-term results of argon plasma coagulation (APC) for inferior turbinates reduction in patients with chronic nasal obstruction. Rhinomanometric parameters, clearance of saccharine test results and cytological examination were statistically analyzed in 70 patients after 3 month and in 47 after 12 month after surgery. Five patients received a second operation. Only patients with first degree in T/S (turbinate/septum) nasal septum deviation were enrolled in both groups. Every patients were treated ineffectively with nasal drops. All patients received topical anesthesia. The procedure of APC were easy to perform end we did not experience postoperative bleeding. Rhinomanometric measurement demonstrated a significant nasal flow at 3 and 12 month after APC. Before 3 and 12 month after surgery the values for resistance shoved significant difference. There were no changes in saccharine transit - time during the follow-up period. At 3 postoperative month, the nasal stuffiness had improved 62 (88%) patients. At 12 month after surgery, the nasal stuffines had improved 34 (73%) patients. APC was shown to effectively reduce the symptom of nasal obstruction without any complications. Argon Plasma Coagulation should be an alternative method in treating the patients with hyperplastic inferior turbinate.