Minimal Invasive Nasal Valve Repair in Treatment of Nasal Valve Obstruction

Abstract

Objectives:

Nasal obstruction is known to be associated with a major decrease in disease-specific quality of life, and nasal valve dysfunction can play a considerable role in nasal airflow obstruction. There are many procedures for treating this type of nasal obstruction. Aim: Evaluate the efficiency of minimally invasive valve repair for the treatment of nasal obstruction due to nasal valve stenosis in comparison with the reduction of the size of inferior turbinate by coblation and sub mucosal diathermy (SMD).

Methods:

This is a cross sectional study conducted atl–erbil from November 20, 2011, to September 19, 2013. The study included 43 patients suffering from nasal obstruction for more than 6 months. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the type of surgery carried out (minimally invasive valve repair, coblation and submucosal diathermy [SMD] of inferior turbinate). Patients were followed for 3 months, and the data were statistically analyzed.

Results:

Patients showed highly significant differences between pre- and 1st, 30th, and 90th days postoperative total nose scale scores (P = .0001). The difference between 1st and 30th and 90th days total score was also significant. While patients treated by coblation and SMD showed no significant difference in the mean nose score (P = .705 and P = .2), postoperative morbidity was less in the minimal invasive valve repair group compared with coblation and SMD groups.

Conclusions:

Minimal invasive valve repair had more rapid improvement and less postoperative morbidity in comparison with coblation and SMD of inferior turbinate.