Effect of nasal surgery on the nasal cavity as determined by acoustic rhinometry.

Acoustic rhinometry (AR) was used to objectively measure the success of septoplasty in relieving nasal obstruction caused by septal deviation. In addition, the patients were given a questionnaire to subjectively assess symptoms of congestion, rhinorrhea, and sneezing. Patients diagnosed with a septal deviation requiring surgery to eliminate obstruction were enrolled in this study. A septal deviation often results in concomitant sinonasal or respiratory problems that require septoplasty plus other surgeries to treat the patient effectively. AR measurements for patients who underwent septoplasty or septoplasty plus other surgeries were taken before and after surgery. To avoid confounding results caused by different levels of congestion, we used only postdecongestant values to analyze the data and only the side of the nose with the smaller volume for analysis. Patients in the septoplasty-only group showed a statistically significant (P < 0.01) increase in volume as measured by AR, a decrease in the symptom of congestion, and a decrease in the symptom of rhinorrhea. Patients who had septoplasty plus other sinonasal procedures showed significant increases in volume and cross-sectional area (CSA) 3, whereas CSAs 1 and 2 increased also, but not significantly.