Newer Surgical Options for Nasal Allergy

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis is a common disorder that affects several patients annually and the hallmark symptoms are nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea and sneezing which significantly impacts the quality of life. Many surgical options exist for the treatment of allergic rhinitis which is directed primarily addressing the nasal obstructive component. The purpose of this review article  is to highlight newer surgical options in the management of patients with nasal allergy. Surgical modalities such as endoscopic resection of the posterior nasal nerve and senior author’s own mini inferior turbinoplasty tunnelling technique for patients with nasal allergy is described here. Most of the literature has focused on medical management for patients with allergic rhinitis. Endoscopic Posterior Nasal neurectomy combined with mini inferior turbinoplasty has good overall significant improvement in nasal allergy symptom scores by 60–80%. Although no single modality has evolved as the gold standard for the surgical management of allergic rhinitis. The main stay of surgical intervention targets the inferior turbinate and posterior nasal nerve which is the parasympathetic supply to the nose causing rhinorrhea. This combined technique provides consistent, robust results with long-term relief of nasal symptoms due to allergic and vasomotor rhinitis without additional risk of complication.