Severe perennial allergic rhinitis treated with Nd:YAG laser

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Allergy and Immunology
• Laser Medicine

Background:

• Conventional treatments for allergic rhinitis, such as antihistamines and immunotherapy, often yield unsatisfactory results.
• Severe allergic rhinitis, particularly house-dust induced, presents a significant challenge in outpatient settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of contact Nd:YAG laser thermocoagulation of the inferior turbinate for treating severe allergic rhinitis.
• To assess symptom relief and intranasal findings following a single-session outpatient laser treatment.

Main Methods:

• Sixty patients with severe house-dust induced allergic rhinitis underwent thermocoagulation of the inferior turbinate using a contact Nd:YAG laser (10 W, 0.5 s per side).
• Patients self-recorded daily symptoms (sneezing, blowing, blockage) for one week pre-operatively and four weeks post-operatively.
• Treatment outcomes were evaluated based on subjective symptom scores and intranasal findings, with no post-operative medication.

Main Results:

• Full symptom relief was achieved in 80% of patients, with an additional 10% experiencing good effect.
• Fair effect was observed in 5% of patients, and 5% reported no improvement.
• The procedure was performed in a single outpatient session under surface anesthesia.

Conclusions:

• Contact Nd:YAG laser thermocoagulation of the inferior turbinate is a rapid, effective, and well-tolerated treatment for severe allergic rhinitis.
• This minimally invasive approach provides significant symptom relief and can be a valuable alternative to conventional therapies.