Vishnu M. S1, Kiranjith J2
OBJECTIVES
To compare the preoperative and postoperative subjective, objective parameters and postoperative complications of 30 patients with nasal obstruction due to inferior turbinate hypertrophy following partial inferior turbinectomy.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
A prospective observational study involving 30 patients with nasal obstruction due to inferior turbinate hypertrophy was done at SGMC, TVM from January 2014 to June 2015. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively based on subjective and objective parameters. Postoperative evaluation was done at day 1, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months based on subjective and objective parameters and postoperative complications.
RESULTS
Snoring among the study population decreased from 26.7% to 10% at the end of 1 month and was further reduced 3.3% at the end of 3 months. Feeling of nasal obstruction, present in all patients, preoperatively was reduced to 36.7%, 16.7% and 3.3% at the end of 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months respectively. Among preoperative objective parameters, cold spatula test which was showing decreased fogging for all patients initially, following the procedure showed improvement in fogging in 70%, 90%, 100% of patients at the end of 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. Anterior rhinoscopy showing large turbinate in all patients preoperatively, showed reduction in turbinate size in 70%, 86.73% and 96.7% at the end of 1 week, 1 month and 3 months respectively. Radiological evidence of enlarged inferior turbinate present in all patients was reduced to 3.3% at the end of 3 months. Occurrence of postoperative reactionary haemorrhage on day 1 was 43.3%. Nasal crust formation was not seen in 6.7% of the patients by the end of 3 months. Nasal pain was seen in 6.7% of the patients at the end of 1 week. Remote sequelae like synechiae and atrophic rhinitis were not reported in any of the patients during the assessment time period.
CONCLUSION
PIT is an effective technique for management of hypertrophy of inferior turbinate and is associated with incidence of short-term complications like bleeding, nasal crusting, etc.
