Cryosurgery in allergic rhinitis.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Allergology
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Chronic allergic rhinitis presents significant challenges in treatment.
• Conventional therapies often lead to patient frustration due to persistent symptoms.
• Hypertrophied inferior turbinates and autonomic innervation are key factors in allergic rhinitis pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate cryosurgery as an alternative treatment for chronic allergic rhinitis.
• To assess the efficacy of cryosurgery in debulking inferior turbinates and altering autonomic innervation.
• To determine the long-term relief provided by cryosurgery for allergic rhinitis.

Main Methods:

• Cryosurgery was performed using a cryoprobe at -90°C on 104 patients with allergic rhinitis.
• The procedure targets hypertrophied inferior turbinates and autonomic nerve supply.
• Patient outcomes were evaluated over a 3-6 month follow-up period.

Main Results:

• Complete symptom relief (rhinorrhoea, nasal obstruction, sneezing) was achieved in 40.4% of patients.
• Moderate improvement was observed in 30.87% of cases, with significant relief in two key symptoms.
• Satisfactory results were noted in 19.27% of patients, indicating overall improvement.
• Only 9.67% of patients reported no improvement after cryosurgery.

Conclusions:

• Cryosurgery demonstrates effectiveness as a treatment modality for chronic allergic rhinitis.
• The procedure offers a viable alternative for patients experiencing persistent symptoms.
• Cryosurgery provides a potential for permanent relief in managing allergic rhinitis.