Coblation nasal septal swell body reduction for treatment of nasal obstruction: a preliminary report

Promising New Diagnostic and Treatment Modalities for Allergic Rhinitis: What's Coming Next?

Novel diagnostic tests may help diagnose patients with local allergic rhinitis (AR) when systemic testing is negative or inconclusive. Surgical approaches including septoplasty, inferior turbinate reduction, nasal swell body reduction, and posterior nasal nerve ablation may improve symptoms in patients whose symptoms are refractory to medical therapy, though high-quality evidence is lacking in the AR population. Intralymphatic and epicutaneous immunotherapy have the potential to improve adherence to allergen immunotherapy, though comparisons with current gold standard treatments are lacking and studies reporting long-term outcomes are needed. Immunomodulatory agents in combination with subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) may improve tolerance of SCIT but reports to date do not demonstrate a clear benefit in symptom alleviation. Future work in these areas may support these options as beneficial for testing and treatment of AR.

Temperature-controlled radiofrequency device treatment of septal swell bodies for nasal airway obstruction: An open-label, single arm multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Nasal airway obstruction (NAO) is a highly prevalent disorder. Septal swell body (SSB) hypertrophy is an often overlooked contributor to NAO. SSB treatment may relieve symptoms of NAO. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical use of a temperature-controlled radiofrequency (TCRF) device to treat SSBs to improve symptoms in adults with NAO.

METHODS

In this prospective, multicenter, open-label, single arm study, patients with severe or extreme NAO related to SSB hypertrophy received bilateral TCRF treatment in the SSB area. The primary endpoint was improvement in Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) Scale scores from baseline to 3 months postprocedure. A subset of study patients underwent computed tomography (CT) imaging to evaluate posttreatment changes in SSB size.

RESULTS

Mean NOSE Scale scores significantly improved from 73.5 (SD 14.2) at baseline to 27.9 (SD 17.2) at 3 months postprocedure, a reduction of -45.3 (SD 21.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -50.4 to -40.1; p < 0.0001); the responder rate was 95.7% (95% CI: 0.88 to 0.99; p < 0.0001). CT evaluation at 3 months showed statistically significant reductions in the SSB with the greatest reduction in the middle thickness (mean change -3.4 [SD 1.8] mL, 95% CI: -4.0 to -2.8; p < 0.0001). Minimal adverse events with any relationship to the device or procedure were reported; none were serious in nature and no septal perforations occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that TCRF treatment of SSB hypertrophy is well tolerated and effective at reducing both SSB size and symptoms of NAO at 3 months posttreatment.

Nasal Swell Body Characteristics in Patients With Septal Perforation

Objective

To determine whether septal perforations have an effect on nasal swell body (NSB) size.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Two tertiary academic medical centers.

Methods

Computed tomography maxillofacial scans of 126 patients with septal perforation and 140 control patients from November 2010 to December 2020 were evaluated. Perforation etiology was determined. Measurements included perforation length and height and swell body width, height, and length. Swell body volume was calculated.

Results

The width and volume of the NSB are significantly smaller in perforation patients when compared to controls. The swell body is significantly smaller and thinner in perforations exceeding 14 mm in height compared to small perforations. Perforation etiology groupings into prior septal surgery, septal trauma, septal inflammatory, and mucosal vasoconstriction categories all demonstrated decreased swell body volume and width compared to controls. Inflammatory etiology had the greatest decrease in swell body size. The hemi-swell body on the contralateral side of a septal deviation is significantly thicker than the ipsilateral side.

Conclusion

The NSB is smaller in patients with septal perforation regardless of perforation size or etiology.

[The septal tubercle: the state of the problem]

The septal tubercle is considered to be a thickened area of the nasal septum, which is located above the lower nasal concha and in front of the middle nasal concha. Taking into account its histological structure and location in the distal segment of the internal nasal valve, it is located and structured for secretory function and vasoactive regulation of the respiratory air flow. These histologically rich tissues with glandular elements are well adapted to the possible dryness that occurs under the influence of intense air flow during breathing, and the existence of a certain number of venous sinusoids of the blood confirms the connection with part of the extensive vascular tissues in the nasal cavity. It is believed that the tubercle of the nasal septum is more pronounced in patients with chronic inflammation of the sinonasal region, for example, with chronic allergic rhinitis or chronic rhinosinusitis. There is currently no consensus on the issue of surgery of the nasal septum body. Due to the lack of consensus among practitioners, many surgeons do not routinely perform operations on this structure and consider the surgical intervention too aggressive, and the effect on nasal obstruction is insignificant. However, according to the presented studies, the results of surgical reduction of soft tissues of the enlarged septal tubercle in the treatment of nasal obstruction using radiofrequency ablation, coblation or microdebrider seem promising, which requires additional study of this issue during long-term follow-up.

Using thermal effect of 970 nm diode laser to reduce nasal swell body

In recent decades, semiconductor lasers have been successfully used in rhinology. However, their usage in the reduction of the nasal swell body (NSB) is barely studied. Our research aimed to conduct an experimental selection of the laser exposure mode in the NSB zone using a 970 nm diode laser for safe and effective NSB reduction. The thermometric parameters of a diode laser with a wavelength of 970 nm were evaluated in a continuous contact mode of exposure at the power from 2 W to 10 W with 2 W step. The laser was targeted at the liver of cattle, given its similar optical properties to the NSB region. After a series of experiments with every power rate and the analysis of temperature data, we estimated an optimal exposure mode at a power of 4 W. The collected thermometric data demonstrate the safety of this mode in a clinical setting for NSB reduction due to causing no thermal damage to the adjacent tissue. Based on the experiment, a technique for laser reduction of the NSB was developed to improve nasal breathing in patients with severe hypertrophy of this area. The proposed technique was applied to 39 patients with chronic vasomotor rhinitis and the NSB. All patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 20 patients who underwent surface contact laser-turbinectomy and the NSB reduction using a 970 nm diode laser. Group 2 included 19 patients with the same pathology who underwent laser-turbinectomy, without reduction of the NSB. No statistically significant difference was observed during the dynamic observation with an objective assessment of nasal respiration according to active anterior rhinomanometry when comparing these subgroups with each other according to the t-criterion for independent samples (p > 0.05). As a result of comparing the data obtained on the NOSE scale using the Student's t-test, a statistically significant difference is observed (p < 0.001). Thus, patients who did not perform the reduction of the NSB subjectively noted the insufficiency of nasal breathing. This fact indicates that the NSB is involved in the regulation of airflow.

Nasal Septal Swell Body: A Distinctive Structure in the Nasal Cavity

OBJECTIVES

The nasal septal swell body (NSB), also known as the nasal septal turbinate, is located in the anterior part of the nasal septum. This study is a narrative review of the existing knowledge on recent developments in NSB.

METHODS

A literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid, and Cochrane Library databases. Google Scholar was used to access more extensive literature. The inclusion criteria were human studies published in English. The exclusion criteria were non-English language and animal studies.

RESULTS

Of the 345 articles that were initially obtained from 5 databases and Google Scholar, 28 were included in this review. There have been many names for NSBs in the past, which still have no unified terminology recognized by professionals. Pathological investigations revealed that NSB contains a certain amount of sinusoidal blood components. Nasal septal swell body is closely related to the internal nasal valve. Imaging studies have found that the size of NSB is associated with nasal diseases, and NSB hypertrophy can cause anatomic obstruction. In recent years, several procedures for NSB have been reported, and preliminary effectiveness has been achieved. However, the long-term outcomes of volume reduction techniques remain unproven.

CONCLUSIONS

The NSB is a distinct anatomic structure that may contribute to nasal obstruction and may be reduced surgically with unclear long-term results. Although being investigated for over a century, the unique physiological roles of NSB are not yet fully understood. More evidence is needed to elucidate its physiological effects.

Pyriform Aperture Enlargement for Internal Nasal Valve Obstruction in Adults: Systematic Review and Surgical Classification

OBJECTIVE

Pyriform aperture enlargement or "pyriplasty" is an uncommonly used procedure for internal nasal valve obstruction in adults besides functional rhinoplasty, inferior turbinate reduction, and septoplasty. A systematic review of the literature was performed to analyze current surgical techniques, their suggested indications, and their related outcome in terms of success and complications.

DATA SOURCES

The search was performed on PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases.

REVIEW METHODS

The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies on congenital, traumatic, tumoral, or infectious internal nasal valve obstruction were excluded.

RESULTS

Eight articles were finally included. Three types of pyriplasty have been described according to the level of bone resection: low-level pyriplasty through the sublabial approach, mid-level pyriplasty through endonasal approach, and extended pyriplasty through either approach. Indications included (1) clinically or radiologically narrow pyriform aperture, (2) previously unsuccessful internal nasal valve surgery, (3) lateral nasal wall collapse, and (4) inferior turbinate's head hypertrophy. Subjective improvement of nasal obstruction was reported in these 4 indications. No major complication was encountered.

CONCLUSION

Pyriplasty for nasal obstruction is a simple and safe procedure that could be effective in selected cases. However, level of evidence is currently low, and success rate may vary with indications and pyriplasty techniques. Moreover, there is no clear definition of normal pyriform aperture dimensions to date. Further prospective studies are thereby necessary and should include radiological analysis of pyriform aperture and validated nasal obstruction measurement tools.

[Experimental research of the diode 970 nm laser thermal effect in order to develop a method for reduction of nasal swell body]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the thermal effects of a 970 nm diode laser and select the modes necessary for the safe and effective use of this laser to reduce the nasal septum elevation (NSB) in volume in vitro.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Laser exposure was carried out through a quartz fiber with a diameter of 400 μm in a continuous contact mode at a power from 2 W to 10 W with a step of 2 W. Three linear cuts 1 cm long were applied to the specimens. The distance between the cuts was 0.5 cm. The initial temperature of the fragments was 25.6±1.6°C. Temperature control was carried out from the side of the fragments opposite to the laser action using a certified and verified thermometer with a contact sensor.

RESULTS

In the course of the experiment, it was noted that the optimal power for effectively and safely reducing the area of the nasal septum elevation is 4 W. The maximum heating temperature reached 38.6±4.7°C.

CONCLUSIONS

A semiconductor laser with a wavelength of 970 nm can be used to reduce the elevation of the nasal septum, as it leads to predictable results, allowing you to control thermal effects and damage to surrounding tissues.

Avoiding Complications in Functional and Aesthetic Rhinoplasty

Historically, nasoseptal surgery favoring functional considerations has compromised aesthetic ones, and vice versa, but modern techniques have evolved that allow symbiotic achievement of both goals. Nasoseptal surgery is among the most commonly performed plastic surgical procedures in the United States, and while it is generally well tolerated, there are a few surgical and aesthetic complications of which to be aware. Herein, we review surgical techniques that improve the nasal airway and nasal aesthetics in a top-down approach with a discussion of possible ensuing complications.

Is Nasal Septal Body Size Associated With Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy and Allergic Rhinitis?

Nasal septal body is a thickened mucosal area of nasal septum with an unknown certain role. In this study, the authors aimed to investigate the association between the area, length, and width of the nasal septal body with inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH) and allergic rhinitis (AR). A total of 106 patients with ITH (54 with AR and 52 without AR), and 49 patients without ITH and AR (control group) were included in this study. Using axial and coronal paranasal computed tomography scans, the area, length, and width of nasal septal body were measured, and the mean values between the groups were compared. Mean area, length, and width of nasal septal body significantly differed among 3 groups (P < 0.001). Septal body area was significantly greater in ITH with AR group, compared to ITH without AR group (P < 0.001) and the control group (P < 0.001). Also, it was significantly greater in ITH without AR group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Septal body width was significantly greater in ITH with AR group, compared to ITH without AR group (P < 0.001) and the control group (P < 0.001). Also, it was significantly greater in ITH without AR group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Patients with ITH had a greater nasal septal body area, length, and width, compared to the patients without. Moreover, AR had an additional increasing effect on the area and width of the nasal septal body.

The Nasal Swell Body and Septal Perforation Repair

OBJECTIVES

To review our experience with secondary surgery for persistent nasal obstruction following successful septal perforation repair and describe the potential contribution of the nasal swell body (NSB) to obstruction.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

METHODS

IRB-approved retrospective chart review of perforation repairs utilizing bilateral mucosal flaps performed by the senior author from October 2008 through April 2019 was performed. Patients who underwent secondary surgery for persistent nasal obstruction were identified. Data regarding patient demographics, perforation characteristics, primary closure technique, and secondary surgical procedures for persistent postoperative obstruction were analyzed. Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scores were assessed pre and post revision surgery.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients (14.7% of 232 successful repairs) met study criteria. Of those, 30 patients underwent revision septal surgery. An inferiorly advanced NSB was surgically reduced in 9.9% (23/232) of patients following successful closure to improve persistent obstruction. There was no incidence of reperforation. All patients undergoing NSB reduction reported improved nasal airflow postoperatively and 13 completed the NOSE questionnaire. The mean preoperative NOSE score (95% CI) was 52.7 (42.2-63.2; median, 50). The mean postoperative NOSE score (95% CI) was 19.2 (12.8-25.6; median, 15). The difference between the preoperative and postoperative NOSE scores was statistically significant (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Repair of a septal perforation using a superior bipedicle flap carries the potential for the NSB to contribute to persistent postoperative nasal obstruction. The swell body can be surgically reduced, without re-perforation, to relieve obstructive symptoms in the patient with a successful perforation repair.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV Laryngoscope, 2020.

A systematic review of the nasal septal turbinate: An overlooked surgical target

OBJECTIVE

The nasal septal turbinate (NST) is a conspicuous structure located in the anterior nasal cavity that impacts the internal nasal valve. Its structure and function is often thought to be poorly characterized, and it is rarely addressed surgically. The authors perform a systematic review in an attempt to synthesize what has been learned of this structure and to evaluate its potential as a treatment target.

METHODS

A query of the Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane databases was undertaken in search of studies evaluating the NST. This qualitative systematic review was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed with established criteria.

RESULTS

Of the initial 1069 hits from the four databases, 16 articles were ultimately included in the review, which varied in quality and risk of bias. The included articles consisted predominantly of radiographic and histopathologic studies. Four studies evaluated NST treatment outcomes. The NST represents a fusiform-shaped region of erectile tissue, similar in structure and function to that of the inferior turbinates. Preliminary treatment outcomes suggest the NST represents an important surgical target in nasal airway surgery.

CONCLUSION

When evaluating nasal obstruction patients, surgeons should assess the NST and consider addressing it surgically.