Objective: To determine the efficacy of posterior nasal nerve (PNN) cryoablation for improving the symptoms of chronic rhinitis.
Study design: Retrospective cohort study.
Setting: A private practice.
Methods: This study evaluated medication usage and adverse effects of in-office PNN cryoablation with a handheld device in patients > 18 years with chronic (>6 months) allergic or nonallergic rhinitis for whom medical management failed. The total nasal symptom score (TNSS) and mini rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (mRQLQ) scores were compared before and after treatment.
Results: This study included 127 patients with a mean age of 52.4 ± 16.9 years; 60.6% of patients were female and 49.6% had allergic rhinitis. Mean symptom scores decreased from 5.94 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.51-6.43) to 3.44 (95% CI, 2.97-3.81, P < .001) after the procedure, with clinically important decreases in 75 (59.1%) patients. For patients with baseline TNSS values of ≥4, 63.5% (66/104) had a clinically important decrease, whereas only 39.1% (9/23) of those with the lower baseline did (P = .04). Mean mRQLQ scores also decreased from 2.51 (95% CI, 2.29-2.72) to 1.28 (95% CI, 1.20-1.47, P < .001) after the procedure. Seventy-eight of 273 (28.6%) medications were discontinued after the procedure. Adverse effects occurred in 18.1% (23/127) of patients with headache as the most common.
Conclusion: PNN cryoablation improves nasal symptoms and quality of life in patients with chronic rhinitis. Patients with a higher baseline TNSS are more likely to experience significant symptomatic improvement.
Keywords: allergic rhinitis; chronic rhinitis; cryoablation; cryotherapy; nonallergic rhinitis; posterior nasal nerve; total nasal symptom score.
© 2023 The Authors. OTO Open published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.