Correlations between objective and subjective tests of nasal patency in patients undergoing septoplasty.

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed correlations between pre- and post-operative objective and subjective nasal patency test results in patients undergoing septoplasty to treat nasal septum deviation.

METHOD: Eighty nasal septum deviation patients who underwent septoplasty were prospectively enrolled. Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation questionnaire scores, anterior rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry data were compared pre-operatively and three months after surgery. The left, right and total volume and left, right and total minimum cross-sectional area acoustic rhinometry values were compared.

RESULTS

The left volume, total volume, left minimum cross-sectional area and total minimum cross-sectional area differed significantly between the two time-points (all p < 0.05). The total resistance, inspiratory total airflow, expiratory total resistance and expiratory total airflow rhinomanometric data did not differ between the two timepoints (all p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that subjective tests such as the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation questionnaire are optimal to identify complaints and assess post-operative satisfaction.