Evaluating the Effectiveness of Septoplasty for Nasal Obstruction: An Outcome-Based Study

Abstract

Introduction: The nasal obstruction causes difficulty in breathing, reduces the sleep and the daily activities of life. The deviated nasal septum is a common cause of the nasal obstruction. The septoplasty can improve the airflow. The local data from the Pakistan are limited. The study aimed to measure the outcomes of the septoplasty in the adults with the deviated nasal septum.

Objective: The study measured change in nasal obstruction symptoms after septoplasty using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation score at twelve weeks after surgery.

Methodology: The prospective study included 94 adults with nasal septal deviation from inpatient and outpatient department not responded the medical therapy. This multicenter study was conducted at Bolan Medical College Quetta and Jhalawan Medical College Khuzdar. The septoplasty was performed under the standard procedures. The symptoms were recorded before the surgery and at the two to twelve weeks after the surgery using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation score and the visual analog scale. The data were analyzed to compare the preoperative scores and the postoperative scores to measure the treatment effectiveness.

Results: The mean age was 32.8±10.4 years. The 59(62.8%) were males and remaining were females. The 61(64.9%) were from urban areas, while 33(35.1%) were from rural areas. The mean duration of symptoms was 18.6±7.2 months. Left sided deviated nasal symptoms was founded in 41(43.6%), right sided was in 38(40.4%) patients.

Conclusion: The septoplasty significantly reduced the nasal obstruction in the adults. The patients reported the better airflow and the symptom relief.