Lee JT, Abbas GM, Charous DD, Cuevas M, Göktas Ö, Loftus PA, Nachlas NE, Toskala EM, Watkins JP, Brehmer D. Two-Year Outcomes After Radiofrequency Neurolysis of Posterior Nasal Nerve in Chronic Rhinitis.
Laryngoscope 2024;
134:2077-2084. [PMID:
37916848 DOI:
10.1002/lary.31120]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To assess the long-term safety and effectiveness of temperature-controlled radiofrequency (TCRF) neurolysis of the posterior nasal nerve (PNN), a minimally invasive treatment for chronic rhinitis.
METHODS
A prospective, single-arm study of 129 patients at 16 centers (United States, Germany) was conducted. Patient-reported outcome measures were the 24-h reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS) and mini rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (MiniRQLQ). Postnasal drip and cough symptoms were assessed using a 4-point scale.
RESULTS
The mean pretreatment rTNSS was 7.8 (95% CI, 7.5-8.1). The significant rTNSS treatment effect at 3 months (-4.2 [95% CI, -4.6 to -3.8]; p < 0.001) was sustained through 2 years (-4.5 [95% CI, -5.0 to -3.9]; p < 0.001), a 57.7% improvement. At 2 years, the proportion of patients with a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of ≥30% improvement in rTNSS from baseline was 80.0% (95% CI, 71.4%-86.5%). Individual postnasal drip and cough symptom scores were significantly improved from baseline through 2 years. The proportion of patients who reached the MCID for the MiniRQLQ (≥0.4-point improvement) at 2 years was 77.4% (95% CI, 68.5%-84.3%). Of 81 patients using chronic rhinitis medications at baseline, 61.7% either stopped all medication use (28.4%) or stopped or decreased (33.3%) use of ≥1 medication class at 2 years. No device/procedure-related serious adverse events were reported throughout 2 years.
CONCLUSION
TCRF neurolysis of the PNN resulted in sustained improvements in chronic rhinitis symptom burden and quality of life through 2 years, accompanied by a substantial decrease in medication burden.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
4 Laryngoscope, 134:2077-2084, 2024.
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