EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE METHOD OF LASER PHOTOCOAGULATION OF THE VIDIAN NERVE BRANCHES IN THE EVENT OF POSTNASAL SYNDROME CAUSED BY VASOMOTOR RHINITIS ON THE BASIS OF SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA
Authors:   Belarusian State Medical University, E. V. Kuliakin , P. A. Zatoloka ,   Belarusian State Medical University, Semenau S. A. ,   Vitebsk City Clinical Hospital of Emergency Medical Care
Published: December 2023

Purpose. Determination of the effectiveness of the treatment of postnasal syndrome caused by vasomotor rhinitis using the method of laser photocoagulation of the distal branches of the vidian nerve based on subjective criteria. Materials and methods. The work is based on the results of examination and treatment of 89 patients with postnasal syndrome caused by vasomotor rhinitis. The study group consisted of 45 patients (22 men and 23 women), these patients, along with laser photocoagulation of the inferior turbinates, underwent photocoagulation of the distal branches of the vidian nerve. The comparison group consisted of 44 patients (20 men and 24 women) who underwent only laser photocoagulation of the inferior turbinates. The evaluation of the results of surgical treatment of patients with postnasal syndrome caused by vasomotor rhinitis was performed on the basis of objective criteria for the following indicators: • Assessment of the quality of life of patients using the SNOT-22 questionnaire (RUS); • Evaluation of the quality of life of patients using a visual analogue scale (VAS – 10-point subjective scale). Results. In the preoperative period, the quality of life of patients was assessed using a specialized questionnaire SNOT-22 (RUS) and VAS. Based on the data obtained, the effect of vasomotor rhinitis with a postnasal component on the quality of life of patients in the study group and the comparison group corresponds to a moderately disturbing scale (the study group – 40.6 ± 3.35 points, the comparison group – 42.8 ± 6.5 points, statistically significant there was no difference between the groups p>0.05, breathing through the nose and smell before surgery in the study group according to VAS – 10.0 [9.0; 10.0] points, in the comparison group – 10.0 [9.0; 10.0] points. Complaints about the flow of mucus along the back of the throat in the study group – 9.0 [9.0; 9.0] points, in the comparison group – 9.0 [8.75; 9.0] points), a statistically significant difference between the groups not detected p>0.05. The use of surgical methods of treatment made it possible to improve the quality of life of patients, a progressive decrease in indicators was noted (1 month after the operation, the respiratory and olfactory function in patients of the study group was 2.0 [1.0; 2.0] points, in the comparison group – 2.0 [2.0;3.0] points Complaints about mucus flow down the posterior pharyngeal wall patients of the study group – 1.0 [0.0;1.0] points, comparison group – 4.0 [4.0;4.0 ] points, a statistically significant difference between the groups p<0.05 was revealed. The quality of life of patients using a specialized questionnaire SNOT-22 (RUS) 1 month after surgery in the study group – 7.95±1.46 points, in the comparison group – 14.3±2.55 points, a statistically significant difference between the groups was revealed p<0.05. Conclusions. In the treatment of postnasal syndrome caused by vasomotor rhinitis, the developed method of surgical treatment using laser photocoagulation of the distal branches of the vidian nerve allowed a statistically significant improvement in the quality of life of patients, thereby proving its effectiveness, which is confirmed by the assessment of subjective criteria.