Removal of polyps in the nose with a laser

Nasal polyps are a problem that affects approximately 4% of all inhabitants of the planet. Pathological proliferation of mucous tissues in the nasal cavities leads to the appearance of these benign formations, which may resemble peas, mushrooms or grapes in shape. As a result, the affected person feels gradually increasing nasal congestion, which, over time, gives him more and more inconvenience. When the disease reaches the last, most advanced stage, the patient can no longer breathe through his nose. In addition to the elementary inconvenience, the presence of polyps in the nasal cavities can cause a whole range of respiratory diseases in chronic and acute forms.

Why do nasal polyps appear, why are they dangerous

Nasal polyps are hypertrophied, overgrown mucous tissue that takes the form of clustered multiple tumors. The reasons for the appearance are polyetiological in nature. Their appearance can be facilitated by the anatomical features of the structure of the nasal cavities, for example, the curvature of the nasal septum or too narrow nasal passages, chronic inflammatory processes of the mucous membranes (pharyngitis, ethmoiditis, sinusitis). Allergic people with diagnosed hay fever, asthmatic bronchitis, and allergic rhinitis are susceptible to the development of polyps. Another factor that contributes to the formation of polyps is cystic fibrosis.

Against the background of chronic inflammation of the mucosa, the tissue tries to fight the destructive process in order to weaken or compensate for the pathological phenomenon. Compensatory function is carried out by increasing the area of ​​the mucous membrane, which takes the form of polyps. The good quality of formations is explained by the fact that pathological changes do not affect the structure and functions of the cells themselves, and do not cause their degeneration.

In men, this disease is determined approximately 4 times more often than in women.

The development of nasal polyps goes through three stages: at first, the polyps are of small size, and the affected person does not even feel their presence. Further, gradually, they occupy more volume of the nasal cavities, which makes it more difficult for the patient to breathe. The feeling of nasal congestion increases every day. The third stage is considered the most neglected, when a person cannot breathe normally through his nose at all, and congestion does not go away after the use of medications.

In a normal state, the air enters the body through the nose, warmed up, moistened and cleaned of small foreign particles. Constant mouth breathing, when the air is not heated to the desired temperature, contributes to the development of certain diseases:

• tracheitis;
• bronchitis;
• pneumonia;
• pharyngitis, and some others.

Such a pathology of the respiratory tract can even shorten the life of the affected person, as it exposes him to a constant risk of various diseases in acute and chronic forms.

Diagnosis and treatment of polyps

Unpleasant symptoms that the patient himself can pay attention to are the first thing the doctor pays attention to when the patient first comes to see him. Depending on the stage of development of polyps, their manifestations may differ. At the very beginning of the disease, the patient may not feel nasal congestion, and have no problems with nasal breathing, but his voice becomes noticeable nasal.

In addition, symptoms of the appearance of polyps in the nose can be such conditions:

• fatigue;
• headache;
• sleep and olfactory disturbances;
• foreign body sensation;
• when the polyps reach large sizes, an unpleasant aftertaste may be felt in the mouth;
• frequent sneezing;
• increased secretion of mucus from the nose.

The growing connective tissue can put pressure on the auditory tube, causing the patient to hear worse, and he may develop otitis media.

If nasal polyps are formed in infancy, the child develops a malocclusion and sucking movements are disturbed, he is not able to swallow the food bolus normally, so malnutrition and malnutrition are observed in such children.

The attending physician directs the patient to endoscopy and rhinoscopy to determine the cause of nasal breathing difficulty. To assess the extent of damage to polyps, a computed tomography may be prescribed.

In addition, the patient will need to pass a general blood test and a bacterial swab from the nasal cavities. If the formation of polyps occurs against the background of allergic reactions, the patient is assigned an allergy test.

Treatment of nasal polyps can occur in two ways:

• conservative therapy;
• surgical removal.

Conservative treatment includes drug therapy, physiological procedures (washing of cavities, special gymnastics), diet.

Surgical intervention does not require a full-fledged operation, tissue incisions or crushing of bone structures. Removal is done:

• using an endoscope and a shaver;
• laser.

Technology of laser removal of nasal polyps

The impact on the mucous tissue with a laser occurs in the form of a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure, which is characterized by low trauma for healthy tissues located close to the affected ones. Through the introduction of an endoscope with a camera and special optics or a camera, a nozzle producing a laser beam penetrates into the nasal cavities. The laser destroys the leg of the neoplasm, after which the cut-off tissue is removed, and the wound is subjected to coagulation. The operation is performed with minimal blood loss.

Indications and contraindications for surgery

The implementation of laser removal of polyps in the nose is prescribed in cases where the patient is concerned about such symptoms and pathologies:

• complete violation of nasal breathing;
• chronic sinusitis, sinusitis;
• curvature of the nasal septum;
• snoring and impaired sense of smell;
• severe bronchial asthma, which is accompanied by nasal congestion;
• mucopurulent discharge from the nose.

It is advisable to prescribe this method of getting rid of polyps if a single polyp is found.

Laser removal of polyps in the nose also has a number of contraindications:

• pregnancy;
• diseases of the internal organs;
• exacerbation of any infectious diseases;
• exacerbation of bronchial asthma or allergic rhinitis;
• acute forms of obstructive bronchitis or hay fever;
• colds, fever, hypertension.

Any exacerbations must first be transferred to a state of remission, after which an operation can be performed.

Advantages and disadvantages of the laser removal method

A study of the statistics of the results of the procedure suggests that, compared with a traditional surgical operation, laser intervention:

• does not require general anesthesia;
• can be carried out not only in a hospital, but also in an outpatient clinic;
• has a low degree of trauma;
• carried out quickly;
• occurs with a minimal likelihood of bleeding, due to the simultaneous coagulation of damaged tissues.

The main disadvantages of the operation are that effective laser removal is possible only if the neoplasms are small and single. It should also be noted that the procedure does not affect the causes of the disease, but only helps to cope with their consequences, so the probability of recurrence is about 50%.

How is the removal of nasal polyps with a laser

On the eve of the operation, the patient should not take food and liquids 6 hours before it starts, and dinner should be light in the evening.

Taking any medication before the procedure must be agreed with the doctor who will carry it out.

Before starting the removal, the surgeon cleans the nasal passages from pus and mucus, after which he injects local anesthesia into the operated person.

When the anesthesia has worked, the doctor inserts a laser light guide into the nasal cavity – a device that produces radiation. In 30-60 seconds, the neoplasm is heated by a laser beam to 100 degrees, its cells lose moisture and are destroyed, thanks to which the doctor can cut off the polyp at the base. With a special medical tweezers, the doctor removes the cut-off polyp. The laser beam also produces tissue coagulation.

The duration of the procedure is about 15 minutes. Even though anesthesia is used, it can cause some discomfort and pain to the patient.

After completing the removal manipulations, the doctor checks their effectiveness using an endoscope. If necessary, laser exposure is repeated after 7 days.

Postoperative period: rehabilitation and recovery of the patient

Laser removal is a sparing method of surgical intervention, however, after it, it is still necessary to follow some rules that contribute to the rapid and safe healing of the wound. In the first few days after the procedure, the patient should not blow his nose or otherwise clear his nose, and it is also forbidden to eat hot food. During this period, it is undesirable to lift weights, as this can cause bleeding.

In addition, you should avoid being in the sun, as well as staying in dirty and dusty rooms. At home, it is necessary to do wet cleaning twice a day, using a gauze mask, in addition, the home must be periodically ventilated.

Allergy sufferers are shown a diet. As a restorative therapy, the doctor may prescribe some drugs – hormonal sprays, antihistamines, which can be taken 3-4 days after the intervention.

Postoperative recovery lasts approximately 14-20 days.

Laser exposure to polyps that have grown in the nasal cavity is an operation that minimally injures the mucous tissues in the nose. In the process, the doctor uses a laser beam that literally cuts off the polyp from its base, and at the same time cauterizes the wound to prevent bleeding or pathogens from entering there. At the same time, healthy, closely located tissues are practically not affected.

Reviews of physicians and patients with nasal polyps suggest that the operation, although it contributes to a significant relief of the patient’s condition, and rather quickly, cannot overcome the cause that causes polyps to appear. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the re-formation of neoplasms only in half of the cases if, after surgical intervention, the patient takes the medicines prescribed by the doctor, performs a nasal lavage procedure and does not allow the re-development of chronic inflammatory processes in the nasal mucosa.