[Effect of radiofrequency thermal ablation treatment on nasal mucociliary clearance in patients with isolated inferior turbinate hypertrophy].

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the effect of the radiofrequency thermal ablation on nasal mucociliary clearance in patients with isolated inferior concha hypertrophy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients (10 females, 20 males; mean age 31.0±12.0 years; range 18 to 61 years) who were admitted to our clinic with a complaint of chronic nasal obstruction and diagnosed with isolated inferior concha submucosal hypertrophy between May 2009 and December 2009 were included. Radiofrequency thermal ablation was applied to the inferior concha at three separate points with 350 joule at 75 °C as a treatment. Nasal mucociliary clearance was evaluated through saccharin clearance test in pre- and postoperative (at eight weeks) period.

RESULTS: The mean pre- and postoperative saccharin clearance tests were 565.4±253.9 sec and 558.7±257.7 sec, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in two measurements (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Our study results show that radiofrequency thermal ablation application for the treatment of isolated inferior concha hypertrophy has no effect on nasal mucociliary clearance.