Acoustic rhinometry evaluation in allergic rhinitis patients before and after turbinate radiofrequency ablation.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the outcome of turbinate radiofrequency ablation (RFA) by acoustic rhinometry. MATEIAL AND METHOD: Thirty allergic rhinitis (AR) patients aged 19-62 years old were recruited for this cross sectional prospective study. They all underwent radiofrequency turbinate ablation for chronic nasal obstruction. The acoustic rhinometry evaluation, total nasal symptom score, and nasal obstruction score before and after surgery were analyzed at second, fourth, and eighth week. RESULTS The mean age of the 30 AR patients was 39.5 years old and two patients required a second operation. After surgery, the total nasal symptom score (TSS) and the difference mean of cross-section area (CSA) I were improved in 2-4 weeks and 4-8 weeks respectively but total nasal volume was not changed. CONCLUSION The authors can use acoustic rhinometry to evaluate short-term result of turbinate radiofrequency ablation. The subjective symptoms were prominently seen in 2-4 weeks after surgery and before the objective result by acoustic rhinometry shown at 4-8 weeks.