Irreversible Electroporation for Inferior Turbinate Reduction Ablation in Adults.

Abstract

Background: Inferior turbinate hypertrophy is a common cause of nasal airway obstruction. An optimal surgical approach should provide effective volume reduction while preserving mucosal integrity and minimizing postoperative morbidity.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of irreversible electroporation (IRE) for non-thermal ablation of inferior turbinate hypertrophy.

Methods: This prospective, multi-center, single-arm study included adult patients with symptomatic nasal obstruction due to inferior turbinate hypertrophy refractory to medical therapy. All patients underwent IRE turbinate reduction using the ENTire system. Outcomes were assessed using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE), Nasal Obstruction Visual Analog Scale (NO-VAS), and the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) at baseline and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. Postoperative pain and clinical healing were also evaluated.

Results: Forty-eight patients completed the study. Significant improvement was observed across all outcome measures. The mean NOSE score decreased from 74.38 ± 13.39 to 11.25 ± 9.20, the NO-VAS score from 69.55 ± 19.48 to 12.51 ± 11.81, and the SNOT-22 score from 33.06 ± 24.18 to 7.48 ± 10.37 at 3 months (all p < 0.0001). Improvement was evident at 1 week and progressed through follow-up. Postoperative pain was low. No major complications occurred, and transient mucosal changes resolved by 3 months.

Conclusion: IRE is a promising non-thermal, minimally invasive technique for inferior turbinate reduction, providing significant symptom improvement with low postoperative morbidity. Larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm durability.