OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effect of radiofrequency ablation and focused ultrasound in treatment of allergic rhinitis which was refractory to medical therapy, and to explore the reliable and safe surgical treatment. METHOD: Eighty-six perennial allergic rhinitis patients were divided randomly into two group. The radiofrequency ablation group included 40 patients and focused ultrasound group included 46 patients. A standard 0 to 10 visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the allergic symptoms therapeutic effect before and one year after treatment. RESULT: Allergic symptoms were improved in both two groups one year after treatment. The total VAS score in radiofrequency ablation group decreased from 31.35 +/- 6.16 to 14.16 +/- 4.83 and the total effective power of this group was 87.5% at the twelfth month after surgical. While the total VAS score in focused ultrasound group decreased from 32.86 +/- 5.45 to 21.91 +/- 8.58 and total effective power was 69.6% (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION This study had demonstrated that the radiofrequency ablation and focused ultrasound appears to be an effective and safe tool for treating allergic rhinitis which was refractory to medical therapy. Compared to focused ultrasound, the radiofrequency ablation seemed to have a longer time therapeutical effect. While the focused ultrasound was more safe and little trauma, which made it possible to the repeated application.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; surgery ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult