Cryosurgery in allergic rhinitis

Nasal allergy is a common problem difficult to treat. Most of the chronic patients feel frustration even after completing all conventional modalities of treatment. We have used cryosurgery as an alternative mode of treatment for providing the permanent relief with regards to this disease. Cryosurgery basically freezes and debulks the hypertrophied inferior turbinates as well as the destroys the autonomic innervation, by a cryoprobe at 90°C. This study comprises 104 patients of Allergic Rhinitis. The patients were followed up for an average period of 3-6 months and the response was evaluated in term of relief in three basic clinical presentation namely Rhinorrhoea, Nasal-obstruction and Sneezing. Complete cure was obtained in 40.4% cases, Moderate (significant improvement in two of the features) in 30.87% cases and satisfactory results in 19.27% cases were observed. Only 9.67% cases showed no sign of improvement. This results infer that cryosurgery may be prescribed as an effective method of treatment in patients of Chronic Allergic Rhinitis. © 1997 Association of Otolaryngologists of India.