Laser Assisted Partial Turbinectomy-LAPT can be a viable alternative for some of those people with more severe symptoms, not controlled by standard medical treatment.
Turbinates (nasal concha) are bone shelves in the lateral wall of nose covered with mucosa. These are responsible for the heating, filtering, and humidifying the air you breathe into your nostrils. Allergies and other irritants can cause these shelves to swell, inhibiting breathing. During Laser Surgery, laser beam shrink blood vessels in the turbinates and remove a small amount of the turbinate tissue. This makes them less likely to swell and block the nasal passages. Also cautery makes the trigger zone less sensitive to allergens.
Please remember Laser Surgery is not is a cure for your allergies. It is also not for people with mild to moderate symptoms. It can be done in children too. The surgery is effective for 70-80%% of patients. It is an option for people with mainly nasal symptoms who haven’t responded to medications or allergy shots.
The outpatient procedure takes about 15 minutes, not including preparation time. Afterward, and the patient stays in recovery room for one hour before being discharged home. Post-operatively, one can expect some temporary congestion. Nosebleeds are also not uncommon after this surgery, but should be temporary.
The procedure can be done in the office-OPD-under a local anesthesia.(see picture above)
ACV Meditalk about Nasal Allergy and Laser Surgery
Dr Paulose is an ENT Consultant Plastic and Laser Surgeon with over 35 years of experience covering in Ear, Nose and Throat procedures, specializing in Laser Surgery and conventional medicine across India, U.K. and Middle East. He is currently engaged with the Jubilee Hospital, in Kerala, India.
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