Reduction of Turbinates with Coblator: Do You Know What It’s About?
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When a reduction of nasal turbinates is recommended, it’s because the ear, nose, and throat specialist has identified an excessive size of the tissue in these nasal organs, and reducing it will improve the patient’s ability to breathe and impact their quality of life.
The procedure is a minimally invasive surgery that decreases the size of the turbinate, removing excess tissue that increases turbinate volume and causes symptoms of nasal obstruction or blockage.
During the surgery, the nasal mucosa in the area is carefully preserved, protecting the entire nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses to avoid damage to the surrounding tissue.
There are two options for performing this intervention.
Types of Turbinate Reduction Surgery
Coblator surgery:
This is a procedure that employs a tool that helps the doctor perform a tissue-friendly intervention, destroying excess tissue with molecular-level heat.
The coblation tool has contributed to many advances in nasal surgeries, as it allows procedures with local anesthesia and reduces the risks of operations.
With the assistance of Coblator and its coblation system, which offers various advantages in the field of otolaryngology, it’s possible to preserve the turbinate bone to achieve its size reduction.
Laser surgery:
It’s a surgical procedure that involves the use of a probe through which the laser is directed according to the turbinate’s position to help eliminate excess tissue and sculpt the ideal turbinate size.
Both processes are capable of reducing both the tissues of the upper and lower turbinates.
What Are the Advantages of Turbinate Reduction with Coblator?
As previously mentioned, Coblator is a tool that has become a breakthrough in ENT surgeries due to its multiple advantages for both the physician and the patientAs mentioned earlier, Coblator is a tool that has made significant advances in otolaryngological surgeries due to the multiple advantages it offers for both the doctor and the patient.
It allows for an outpatient procedure with local anesthesia. Wider turbinate reduction, with this coblation system, both the anterior and posterior portions of the turbinate can be treated easily. It ensures a rapid recovery; the damages are so minimal that the recovery process is much simpler for the patient.
What Happens During Turbinate Reduction Surgery with Coblator?
We’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of a surgical session using this cold coblation system.
Local anesthesia is applied, along with a substance that helps inflate the turbinate for the procedure. The tip of the tool is inserted through one of the nostrils until it reaches the turbinate area. Tissue removal begins with the tool’s operation, meaning heat is induced, and the unwanted area is disintegrated at the cellular level. The positive aspect of this procedure is that it allows for uniform damage and also marks a very functional depth guide for doctors during surgery. Once the turbinate has been treated to satisfaction, the tool is removed, and precise care instructions are given to the patient, including post-operative care until crust formation.
When Is Turbinate Reduction Surgery Needed?
The need for this treatment can only be determined by a specialist in the field of otolaryngology who evaluates your case and deems this option as the sole solution.
In most cases where the patient presents symptoms such as difficulty breathing through the nose, continuous nasal congestion, sleep apnea, facial pain, frequent infections, and thick mucus production, the doctor recommends a non-invasive preliminary treatment.
Pharmacological options are recommended to help the body regain its health. If this does not yield the desired results, then the doctor will consider the possibility of surgery.
Above all, the specialist must determine the real reason for the symptoms, which may be related to other conditions such as a deviated septum, nasal polyps, among others.
Diagnostic methods include a series of tests such as endoscopy, tomography, etc., which help the specialist identify the cause of the patient’s discomfort. This, combined with the lack of improvement with drug treatment, may suggest that the ideal option is surgery.
Contact Dr. Lech, an otolaryngologist in Panama, ready to serve you. Schedule an appointment.
What is the Coblator?
The Coblator is an advanced medical technology used in otorhinolaryngological surgeries to treat various conditions related to nasal obstruction and nasal sinuses.
The Coblator can be defined as a medical device that uses a combination of radiofrequency energy and low-temperature plasma to precisely and controllably treat soft tissues.
Unlike other devices that use intense heat, the Coblator operates at lower temperatures, resulting in less thermal damage to surrounding tissues. This makes it a safe and effective option for a variety of surgical procedures performed by otolaryngologists.
Advantages of the Coblator There are significant advantages to using the Coblator, including:
- Precision and control: The Coblator allows surgeons to remove or reshape specific tissues with high precision and control, minimizing damage to adjacent structures and preserving normal function.
- Less bleeding: The combination of radiofrequency energy and low-temperature plasma in the Coblator helps coagulate blood vessels during the procedure, reducing intraoperative bleeding.
- Less thermal damage: Unlike other surgical techniques that use intense heat, the Coblator produces less thermal damage to surrounding tissues, facilitating faster recovery and reducing the risk of complications.
- Less postoperative pain: Due to its ability to preserve healthy tissues and minimize nerve damage, patients undergoing Coblator procedures often experience less postoperative pain.
Types of procedures in which it can be used.
The Coblator is used in a variety of otorhinolaryngological surgical procedures. For example:
- Nasal obstruction surgery: It is used to treat conditions such as nasal polyps, hypertrophy of the turbinates, or benign tumors that can obstruct the nasal airways. By ablating and reducing obstructive tissue, normal airflow is restored, and nasal breathing is improved.
- Nasal septum surgery: It is used to correct deviated nasal septum, a condition in which the septum is displaced, causing breathing difficulties and other symptoms. Coblator technology allows surgeons to precisely reshape the nasal septum, improving respiratory function and alleviating associated symptoms.
- Sinus surgery: The Coblator is used in endoscopic procedures to treat nasal sinus conditions such as sinus polyps or chronic sinusitis. It enables precise and controlled dissection of inflamed or infected tissues, improving sinus drainage and ventilation.
