RESUMO
Nasal obstruction is one of the most common chronic presenting symptom encountered by otolaryngologists. In most patients, the cause of nasal obstruction is either septal deviation or turbinate hypertrophy. Most cases of hypertrophic turbinate are usually mild and respond to antihistamine therapy, local decongestants or corticosteroid [1]. However, surgery is required in some cases and there is a trend toward less invasive than invasive techniques [2]. In order to compare and evaluate radiofrequency tissue volume reduction [RFTVR] and submucosal diathermy [SMD] for treatment of nasal obstruction due to bilateral hypertrophy of the inferior turbinates, 40 patients with bilateral nasal obstruction were divided into 2 groups; 20 patients underwent RFTVR and 20 patients underwent SMD. All 40 patients were followed for 2 months after surgery. Postoperative improvement in nasal breathing after RFTVR was reported for 85% of patients 8 weeks after surgery, while after SMD, improvement was reported for 80% of patients. Rhinomanometric results demonstrated a significant decrease in nasal resistance on both sides after both techniques 6 weeks postoperatively [P < 0.01]. As regard saccharine transit time [STT], in the RFTVR group the mean post operative STT was 10.65 mm, while that in the SMD group was 12.05 min which suggests good preservation of surface mucosa and mucocilinary function in group A than group B patients. Electron microscopic study in both groups showed that in group A patients, RFTVR did not induce any epithelial damage with preservation of ciliated cells and mucociliary function which was markedly better than the SMD technique. In conclusion, both techniques are relatively safe and effective in improving the nasal airway but RFTVR is more superior in preservation of the nasal mucociliary mechanism