Radiofrequency Volumetric Tissue Reduction (RFVTR) of Inferior Turbinates: A New Method in the Treatment of Chronic Nasal Obstruction

Abstract

Twenty-two Caucasians (16 male and 6 female) with chronic bilateral nasal obstruction due to hypertrophic inferior turbinates were followed up over a three-month period. They were assessed by clinical examination, as active anterior rhinometry, and acoustic rhinometry before and after topical decongestion, preoperatively and three months after surgery. All patients were treated by application of radiofrequency-volumetric-tissue reduction (RFVTR, or somnoplasty) to both inferior turbinates. Initial postoperative edematous response disappeared during the first week after RFVTR. Three months postoperatively 20 of 22 patients (91%) reported subjective improvement of nasal patency. The average cross-sectional area for both sides of the nasal cavity (measured at the head of the inferior turbinate (C-Notch) before decongestion) increased in 15 of 22 patients (68.2%). This means a significant improvement from 1.24 to 1.49 cm2 for both sides of the nasal cavity (p = 0.0054). We conclude that RFVTR can safely reduce turbinate volume in a precise manner in patients with nasal obstruction due to hypertrophic inferior turbinates.

Acoustic rhinometry: should we be using it?

“…As he cannot tolerate decongestants (hypertension), intranasal steroids (glaucoma, cataracts) or allergy immunotherapy (angina, beta-blocker therapy), surgical reduction of the turbinates with a therapy directed at mucosal turbinate swelling, such as radiofrequency ablation of the turbinates [62].…”

Nasal and sinus endoscopy for medical management of resistant rhinosinusitis, including postsurgical patients

“…Radiofrequency ablation of the turbinates (eg, Somnoplasty) has not caused the same problems as surgical turbinate reduction. 63 Frontal sinus disease It is often possible to visualize the frontal sinuses in patients who have had previous frontal sinus surgery. During the course of endoscopy, the examiner may be able to see light emanating from the forehead as the frontal sinuses are entered.…”

Catheter-based ultrasound applicators for selective thermal ablation: progress towards MRI-guided applications in prostate

“…Heating energy can be applied by external means or internally via interstitial, intraluminal or intracavitary approaches. Numerous clinical examples of non-oncological high-temperature thermal treatments abound, including treatment of prostatic hyperplasia 1,2 , cardiac arrythmias 3,4 , uterine fibroids 5,6 , low back pain 7 , reduction of upper palate and turbinates to reduce snoring 8,9 , stabilization of skeletal joints 10,11 and cosmesis such as dermal tightening 12,13 . High temperature therapy or thermal ablation is also being applied to treat localized cancerous tumours in sites such as brain 14,15 , liver [16][17][18] , kidney 19 , lung 20 , breast 5 and bone 21 .…”