The efficacy of radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction of hypertrophied inferior turbinate in simple snoring.

BACKGROUND: Simple snoring represents a social problem, not only because it could affect the patient's married life, but it often goes along with sleep-disordered breathing. Chronic nasal obstruction has many sequel including snoring and the inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH) is its most common cause. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of video-assisted endoscopic radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction (RFVTR) to reduce snoring in patients affected by chronic nasal obstruction due to ITH.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted over 48 habitual snoring with persistent nasal obstruction due to bilateral ITH refractory to medical management received one time RFVTR of both it. Nasal symptoms were assessed both subjectively, by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and NOSE Scale, and objectively by videorhinohygrometer. Snoring was measured by Snoring severity rated by the bed partner, in a longitudinal fashion, using VAS. All patients were evaluated pre-operatively, and after 45th day (range 35-50 days) post-operatively.

RESULTS: Thirty-two subjects completed study. All patients had significant symptomatic improvement in nasal breathing (5.53 ± 2.88 vs 1.87 ± 1.75; p < 0.05), confirmed by videorhinohygrometer values (p < 0.05). We had a significantly improvement of snoring in all patients (5.62 ± 2.80 vs 1.86 ± 1.43, p < 0.001) with a mean snoring Visual Analog Scale improvement of 77.4%.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on this study and literature review, it seems that RFVTR represents a safe, minimal invasive, easy performed, and time and cost effective surgery, which may decrease symptoms of snoring in patients with ITH, at least, in short-term follow-up.