Nasal Procedures For Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Nasal obstruction can interfere with nasal breathing during the day and night, and it can play a major role in snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Relief of nasal obstruction can improve snoring and obstructive sleep apnea by itself and can also improve the ability of some patients to tolerate positive airway pressure therapy for obstructive sleep apnea.

Treatment options include medications such as nasal saline, topical corticosteroid and antihistamine sprays, and oral medications such as antihistamines or decongestants. Non-surgical treatments can include external nasal dilators for selected patients. If these are not successful by themselves, surgery can improve the nasal airway either alone or in combination with these other options. The most common nasal procedures include turbinate surgery, septoplasty, and rhinoplasty and nasal valve surgery

Coblation Turbinate Reduction

Coblation Turbinate Reduction can provide a fast return to normal breathing for our patients with turbinate hypertrophy

Many people with nasal blockage or congestion are due to enlargement of the turbinates. These are located in the nose along the sides of the nasal cavity. They are responsible for the suffy nose when you are sick, cause your nose to block off on the side you are sleeping on, or cause the alternating nasal congestion in many of my patients. They swell in response to allergies, chemical exposure, smoking, and for many other reasons.  Although treating nasal obstruction rarely results in complete snoring relief, it is an important part of ensuring long term relief from other procedures and in relieving many other symptoms from nasal obstruction. This includes improvement in nasal congestion, morning post-nasal drip, mouth breathing, and dry mouth and throat in the morning







Are patients happy  with coblation? The evidence for this is variable but overall, 89% of patients are satisfied and would have the procedure again (Atef et al, Am J Rhinol, 2000; Back et al. Am J Rhinol 2006 ; Bhattacharyya et al, Otolaryngol Head and Neck Surg, 2003). Complication rates for coblation can be extrapolated (an educated guess) from studies on this and other radiofrequency techniques

What to expect?

The Coblation Wand (the probe) is inserted into the turbinate to the desired depth. Either one or two sites are chosen based on your anatomy and level of obstruction.

You will not feel any discomfort when the probe is inserted. Each site is treated for about 10 seconds. Usually 2 to 4 sites on each side of the nose is used.

After the procedure, you are given a prescription for pain medication, antibiotics, and are asked to rinse your nose out regularly with a salt water spray. You can expect some discomfort for the first day or two. As a general rule, ¼ people don’t use pain medications at all, 2/4 people use Tylenol, and ¼ people need a prescription pain medication. There can be some crusting for the first week and some blood on the Kleenex if you blow your nose for the first 4 days

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