Banhiran Wish, Tantilipikorn Pongsakorn, Metheetrairut Choakchai, Assanasen Paraya, Bunnag Chaweewan
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Faculty ofMedicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
J Med Assoc Thai. 2010 Aug;93(8):950-60.
This prospective, before-and-after study was aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of radiofrequency (RF) inferior turbinate reduction in patients with chronic rhinitis refractory to medication on quality of life.
From April 2007 to April 2008, there were 28 patients enrolled in the present study. The temperature-controlled radiofrequency (RF) was applied at inferior turbinate on both sides. To compare before and at the 8th weeks after RF treatment, the patients were given Rhinoconjuctivitis Quality of Life questionnaires (Rcq-36) and questionnaires using visual analog scales (0-10) to assess subjective symptoms such as the frequency and severity of nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, hyposmia, and sneezing. The acoustic rhinometry and active rhinomanometry were also done to evaluate objective outcomes.
At the 8th week after RF treatment, the patients quality of life in every dimension of Rcq-36 and all symptoms revealed a significant improvement (p < 0.05). Particularly, the severity and frequency of nasal congestion were reduced from 6.8 +/- 2.5 and 6.3 +/- 2.5 to 2.6 +/- 2.2 and 2.5 +/- 2.1 respectively (p < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant change in objective findings. All patients reported only minimal pain and no complication.
This is the first study to show that radiofrequency inferior turbinate reduction can improve quality ofhlife ofthe patients with chronic rhinitis in all dimensions. It is a simple and minimal invasive procedure, and thus will be a good alternative treatment.
本前瞻性前后对照研究旨在证明射频下鼻甲缩小术对药物治疗无效的慢性鼻炎患者生活质量的有效性。
2007年4月至2008年4月，本研究共纳入28例患者。在双侧下鼻甲应用温控射频。为比较射频治疗前及治疗后第8周的情况，给予患者鼻结膜炎生活质量问卷（Rcq - 36）以及使用视觉模拟量表（0 - 10）的问卷，以评估主观症状，如鼻塞、流涕、嗅觉减退和打喷嚏的频率及严重程度。还进行了鼻声反射和主动鼻阻力测量以评估客观结果。
射频治疗后第8周，患者Rcq - 36各维度的生活质量及所有症状均有显著改善（p < 0.05）。特别是，鼻塞的严重程度和频率分别从6.8±2.5和6.3±2.5降至2.6±2.2和2.5±2.1（p < 0.001）。然而，客观检查结果无统计学显著变化。所有患者仅报告有轻微疼痛，无并发症。
这是第一项表明射频下鼻甲缩小术可在各维度改善慢性鼻炎患者生活质量的研究。这是一种简单且微创的手术，因此将是一种很好的替代治疗方法。
