Nasal Blockage-Laser Treatment

Laser Turbinectomy –Jubilee Hospital Trivandrum

Often, patients present to the ENT department complaining of nasal obstruction and nasal congestion. Sometimes, these symptoms are due to allergies and at other times, they may be due to anatomical factors such as a deviated septum or turbinate hypertrophy. Both the nasal septum (a wall that divides the nasal cavity into a right and left side) and turbinates play a significant role. Normally, turbinates are tissue masses extending into the nose from the sides which warm and humidify the air we breathe.

However, in many patients, the inferior turbinates become so unusually large that they contribute to not only nasal obstruction, but also nasal congestion and/or obstruction either all the time, that fluctuates, or worse when lying down. At times it gives rise to a persistent clear runny nose. There is alternating nasal obstruction on the side one lays down on (right nasal obstruction when laying down on the right which than switches side when laying down on the left).

Medications like Fluticasone nasal sprays and decongestants are tried first and if no avail, they will benefit from simple laser cautery.

Laser Turbinectomy

By using Co2 Laser at 6 Watts, the excess tissue-The turbinates are vaporized by linear laser cautery living behind island of normal mucosa in strips. This is done under topical anesthesia, no bleeding, no pain and no need for hospital stay.

It takes approximately 10-15 minutes only.

The patients are instructed to take rest for a day at home and can return to work the next day. A local application of antibiotic ointment and oral antihistamine for few days is that all needed as post op care.

Appointment

Clinic hours: 8AM -1 PM Mon-Wed-Friday

Operation : 8AM-4PM -Tue-Thu-and Saturdays

For Appointment- call 0471-2334561/62/63/64, 6452020,407822 Fax-0471-2330925

Email: drpaulose@yahoo.com