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

Abstract

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