Partial turbinectomy of inferior turbinate’s is in theory a reduction in size of the turbinates by using a laser when they are too big and cause a chronic stuffy nose.
When the patient complains about « breathing loudly through the mouth », snoring or having sleep apnea, his nose is blocked by an obstacle, it is necessary to clear the nasal passages. This is, most often, an enlarged turbinates, due to exposure to pollution, exhaust gas (motorcycle), tobacco or air conditioning.
If we talk about the diagnosis of sleep apnea associated with daytime sleepiness, snoring, clogged nose and / or large tonsils, a ventilatory polygraphy or a polysomnography can be realized. The standard treatment for this syndrome sleep apnea will be, in addition to the partial laser turbinectomy, PPC or mandibular advancement device.
This completely painless treatment can be achieved by C02 laser under local anesthesia on a consultation chair. One 5 minutes laser session is enough to instantly « fill in » the nose. The portion of mucosa cone blocking the passage to the throat and lungs is removed. After the session, the patient feels no pain, there is no installation of locks in the nose, and restarting normal activities immediately is possible.
As with any surgery, there can be side effects and / or complications. It can be: crusts, which can sometimes be more or less disruptive, causing a sensation of cold for nearly eight days, and will be eliminate gradually during the following days. Exceptionally, a nosebleed or infection may occur, supported by the fact of putting his fingers or a tissue in the nose.
A laser turbinectomy can cause the Empty Nose Syndrome (ENS). When an excessive amount of cones is removed, the nose loses its ability to properly pressurize, temper, moisten, filter, smell and detect the inhaled air stream. Natural respiratory synchronization between the nose, mouth and lungs is also disrupted. The empty nose syndrome usually occurs within a year after the turbinate. It can often seem as directly after the operation. The patient is now suffering from Empty Nose Syndrome is constantly breathless because of the « paradoxical obstruction », sleep becomes very shallow and many develop sleep apnea.
The improvement is assessed on the reduction or disappearance of symptoms: nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, headache, recurrent ENT infections, improvement of the smell, of the quality of sleep, and of the ventilation.
Given the risks associated with this Laser turbinectomy, first-line, non-invasive solution as nasal dilator RespiFacile would be recommended.