Vol.95 No.11 contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 95 No. 11 November 2002
Global Turbinectomy of the Inferior Nasal Turbinate Mucosa
for Hypertrophic Rhinitis with Endoscopic Shaver
Takashi Miyazawa and Michitaka Hoshino
(Social Insurance Chukyo Hospital)
Atsushi Ito and Masakatsu Takahashi
(Kariya General Hospital)
Maki Oga
(Nagoya First Red Cross Hospital)
Saiko Sugiura and Tsutomu Nakashima
(Nagoya University)
Using an endoscopic shaver, we performed global turbinectomy of the inferior nasal turbinate mucosa for 31 patients (20 males and 11 females, aged 14-68 years) with hypertrophic rhinitis refractory to nonsurgical treatment. In addition, we applied 80％W/V trichloroacetic acid to the inferior turbinate after removing the mucosa. The mean follow-up period was 5 months, ranging from 1 to 23 months. Direct visualization with the endoscope allowed more accuracy and the electric motorized shaver ensured quick and extensive removal of excessive mucosa. The inferior turbinates from two patients were examined several months after the removal histopathologically. At 5 months after the surgery, cylindrical epithelium covered the surface of the mucosa. The number of nasal glands had decreased, and the collagen fibers had increased in the lamina propia. The results showed that the treatment was effective in 100％ of the patients with nasal occlusion. Watery nasal discharge improved in 4 of the 8 patients who were followed for 6 months. This surgery is an effective treatment for perennial hypertrophic rhinitis, especially in severe cases.
Key words : turbinectomy, inferior nasal turbinate, hypertrophic rhinitis, endoscopic shaver