Stimulation and Resection of Vidian Nerve in Patients with Chronic Hypertrophic Non-allergic Rhinitis: Effect on Histamine Content in Nasal Mucosa

Parasympathetic innervation of nasal mucosa plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic hypertrophic non-allergic rhinitis (C.H.N.A.R.). The present study investigated the effect of Vidian nerve stimulation and resection on the histamine contents and on the morphological pattern in mucosal samples of patients with C.H.N.A.R. Vidian nerve stimulation determines a significant decrease in histamine content in the samples examined; microscopical observations showed significant variations in the glandular, stromal and vascular components. The changes indicate an enhanced secretory activity, intensive vasodilatation and active degranulation of mast cells, which were significantly decreased in number in the samples obtained after 90 sec of stimulation. The neurectomy of the Vidian nerve resolves quite completely the clinical symptomatology and in parallel decreases the mucosal histamine contents, which are increased in patients with C.H.N.A.R. before the operation in comparison with the normal controls.