INTRODUCTION

Rhinitis medicamentosa is an adverse nasal congestion induced by overuse of nasal decongestants.^1-7 Oral medications like antihypertensive, antipsychotics, β-adrenoceptor antagonists, and oral contraceptives also cause nasal congestion.^5,6 However, the mechanism by which topical nasal decongestants and oral medications cause nasal congestion differs.^2,3 Since the first nasal vasoconstrictor ephedrine was isolated in 1887, these medications have been used in the nose.^1,2,7 Lake coined the term rhinitis medicamentosa in 1946.^1-3,7,8 Rhinitis medicamentosa is characterized by nasal congestion without rhinorrhea, postnasal drip, or sneezing that begins after using a nasal decongestant for more than 3 days.²

There are two classes of nasal decongestants: Sympathomimetic amines like phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine and imidazolines like oxymetazoline and xylometazoline.^1,7 The exact pathophysiology of rhinitis medicamentosa is unknown. The imidazolines appear to act postsynaptically on sympathetic nerves and cause vasoconstriction by secreting endogenous norepinephrine via a negative feedback mechanism, thus decreasing blood flow and decongesting the nose. But later on, tolerance develops. The patient becomes increasingly dependent on the drug, and a vicious circle is established that may result in drug habituation.^3,7,8

Very few prospective studies of rhinitis medicamentosa have been performed and most of the knowledge about the condition comes from case reports and histologic studies. In many subjects, rhinitis medicamentosa occurs after they begin using nasal decongestants to treat other nasal conditions. It is difficult to determine if the rebound congestion is secondary to the initial nasal condition, rhinitis medicamentosa, or both. The validated criteria to diagnose the rhinitis medicamentosa do not yet exist.²

The first criteria for the diagnosis of rhinitis medicamentosa were proposed in 1952 and included

It has also been shown that the long-term use of the preservative benzalkonium chloride (BKC), a quaternary ammonium compound, in nasal spray accentuates the severity of rhinitis medicamentosa in healthy volunteers.³ Benzalkonium chloride alone induces mucosal swelling after 30 days of use of the nasal spray in healthy subjects, unlike placebo.^3,9 The preservative BKC also has a bactericidal effect, because it damages the cell wall of the microorganisms.³

Intranasal glucocorticosteroids have been used for the treatment of rhinitis medicamentosa.^2,3 It was shown in both human and animal models that nasal corticosteroids decrease nasal edema, inflammation, congestion, and nasal edema associated with rhinitis medicamentosa.^2,10 However, none of the trials had sufficient power and it is questionable in all the studies whether the subjects actually had rhinitis medicamentosa.² No randomized controlled trials are available to prove the usefulness of glucocorticosteroid injections, oral glucocorticosteroids, or oral antihistamines.² Nasal congestion in subjects with presumed rhinitis medicamentosa may not only be caused by the implicated nasal decongestant but may instead be caused or worsened by a concomitant condition, such as allergic rhinitis, nonallergic rhinitis, or other nasal pathology.²

Nowadays, radiofrequency (RF) methods are widely used in otorhinolaryngology.¹¹ Radiofrequency creates ion excitation in the target tissue cells, causing the temperature to be in the range 60 to 90°C (denaturation protein forms in 49.5°C).^11,12 The RF that ranges from 300 to 3,000 kHz has been defined as a medium frequency.¹³ The target site is stably formed with tissue-reduced volume approximately 3 weeks postoperatively.¹³ The studies on the use of RF in cases of rhinitis medicamentosa are very little. Evidence was available only indirectly, in studies of inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Therefore, the study was done to evaluate the efficacy of RF turbinoplasty with respect to the obstructive symptoms and patient satisfaction, and to evaluate the complications of the procedure in patients with rhinitis medicamentosa.

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy and results of RF turbinoplasty in patients with rhinitis medicamentosa due to imidazolines like oxymetazoline and xylometazoline.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

In the present study, 20 patients (n = 20) aged from 16 to 43 were included. The mean age was 24 years. In the present study, 12 were males and 8 were females. All had nasal obstruction preoperatively. The duration of use of nasal drops varied from 3 months to 5 years.

The subjective analysis done by NOSE questionnaire preoperatively showed score of 100 in 12 patients and 80 in 8 patients. The mean and standard deviation (SD) were 92 and 10.1 respectively. The NOSE score at 15th postoperative day was 0 in 16 patients. Three patients showed score of 5 and one patient showed score of 10. The mean and SD were 1.3 and 2.8 respectively. The mean difference is 90.7 with 98.6% reduction (t value 37.18 and p-value <0.001), which was highly significant (Table 1). At the end of 3 months, 19 patients showed score of 0; however, one patient showed score of 10. The mean and SD were 0.5 and 2.2 respectively (Graph 1). The mean difference was 91.5 with 99.5% reduction (t value 37.56 and p value <0.001) (Table 2).

The objective analysis was done by NES system. Nasal endoscopic score on right side before procedure was 5/6 in 2 patients, 4/6 in 15 patients, and 3/6 in 3 patients. The mean and SD were 3.95 and 0.51 respectively. At the end of 15th postoperative day, it was 0/6 in 13 patients and 1/6 in 7 patients. The mean and SD were 0.35 and 0.49 respectively, with mean difference of 3.6 and 91.1% reduction (t value 23.66 and p-value <0.001) (Table 3). After 3 months, it was 0/6 in all 20 patients. The mean and SD were 0 with mean difference of 3.6 and 91.1% reduction (t value 23.66 and p-value < 0.001) (Table 4). Similar NES was obtained on left side before and after procedure (Graph 2). Statistical results are same for both right and left sides of nose, and no statistically significant difference was observed between the right and left nasal cavity (p < 0.001).

Graph 1

Mean NOSE scores before and after procedure

Graph 2

Mean NES scores before and after procedure

Turbinate edema and secretions decreased significantly at the end of 15 days after the procedure. No adverse reactions, such as reactionary or secondary bleeding, infection, adhesions, synechiae, bone necrosis, and atrophic rhinitis occurred after surgery in all patients.

DISCUSSION

In India, it has been possible to purchase nose drops containing oxymetazoline and xylometazoline over the counter; there is no need for a doctor's prescription of nasal sprays containing oxymetazoline and xylometazoline. In the present study, out of 20 patients, 17 patients started taking nasal drops for nasal blockage following rhinitis (out of 17, 11 patients were self-medicated), 2 patients in pregnancy, and in 1 patient did not remember the reason. In Toohill et al¹⁴ study, out of 130 patients, the major reasons for self-medication were deviated nasal septum in 40 patients, an upper respiratory tract infection in 33, allergy in 18, miscellaneous causes in 24, and unknown in 15 patients.

Rhinitis medicamentosa occurs at a similar rate in men and women, but is more common in young and middle-aged adults. In the present study, the mean age is 24 years, of whom 12 are males and 8 are females. This is in accordance with Ramey et al² study. In Toohill et al¹⁴ study, 130 patients were included, with 73 males and 57 females, with the peak incidence in young and middle age adults.

Porter et al¹⁵ reported that RF is very effective for the improvement of nasal obstructions in a long-term follow-up of 2 years. The size of the study group was limited to 19 patients. Radiofrequency thermal energy induces an ionic agitation with vaporization at the cellular level in tissues. These processes lead to changes and reduction of volume in tissues during the healing period.¹¹ Other surgical methods, such as turbinate cauterization may result in infection, long healing period, mucosal adhesion, and secretion. Radiofrequency procedure is usually well accepted by patients because of low rate of associated complications and high efficiency of the treatment. In the present study, 2 MHz RF is used. In comparison, Akdag et al¹³ applied 1,050 J. Cukurova et al¹⁶ applied 450 to 480 J for each turbinate. Although different RF energy levels were applied, the results from their study were in support of the present study when compared.

In the present study, two different aspects are evaluated; first, the clinical effectiveness of RF in cases of rhinitis medicamentosa due to imidazolines and second, it compares the results between the right and left nasal cavity. After procedure at the end of 15th day, 16 patients were relieved of the symptom and had no problem. Three patients had very mild problem and one patient complained of moderate problem. At the end of 3rd month, 19 patients had no problem and 1 patient had moderate problem. Subjective evaluation shows that RF decreased nasal problem dramatically. In Akdag et al¹³ study, the mean and SD values of NES were 3.96 and 0.20 on both sides before procedure and at the end of 3 months it was 1.02 and 0.75 in right side and 0.84 and 0.74 on left side. Nearly similar statistical results have been obtained in present study. Akdag et al¹³ showed that RF was equally efficient for both the right and left nasal cavities. Similarly, the present results were in agreement with this finding. In Akdag et al¹³ study, mild congestion and crusting were observed during the first week after the procedure. Crusting symptoms may have originated from the applied amount of RF energy. In the present study, strong correlation between nasal congestion score of patients and anatomical findings was observed and was supported by the obtained NOSE and NES results. A statistically significant relationship between NOSE and NES data during the 3-month period was established.

In Akdag et al¹³ study at the end of 3 months, 78% improvement is seen. Cukurova et al¹⁶ showed 82% improvement during 5 years. In the present study, the ratio of improved nasal obstruction was 99% from pretreatment to 3rd month subjectively and 91% objectively as the mean values were taken into consideration. Such good results obtained by the RF may be attributed to concurrent treatment of various cofactors, which led to the initiation of use of the nasal decongestant drugs. However, the most important points are permanence and sustainability of the treatment results seen in present study.

In the present study, no major complications are observed. Patients complained of mild pain during the procedure, which was also observed in Sapçi et al¹¹ study. Turbinate edema and secretions were absent at the end of 2 weeks after the procedure. In Akdag et al¹³ study, no adverse reactions, such as bleeding, infection, adhesions, synechiae, bone necrosis, and atrophic rhinitis were observed in 2-year follow-up. In Saki et al¹² study, no major complications after RF surgery have been observed at the end of 3 months. In Sapçi et al¹¹ study, no major complications were observed.

Finally, the important point of this study was patients’ satisfaction with the procedure and abstinence from the steroid sprays. Nasal steroids are not preferred in some conditions because of the inherent risks of administrating them into the nasal cavity and the discomfort associated with their administration. In these set of selective patients, RF can be considered as an alternative therapy. Radiofrequency ablation is such a simple procedure, even in long run; if symptoms recur, the procedure can be easily repeated.

CONCLUSION

Radiofrequency turbinoplasty technique can be recommended as an effective method in imidazoline-induced rhinitis medicamentosa. It is simple, comfortable, fast relief giving, no repeated steroids, cost-effective, and a single-session treatment. Good compliance and cooperation from patients can be obtained with no major complications of the treatment. It allows patients to be managed in the office environment. However, since this is a small study, further work needs to be done to determine long-term outcome.