Evaluation of the Effect of Nasogastric Intubation on Olfactory Function

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the olfactory functions in patients having had nasogastric intubation.
 Material and Methods: The study included 40 adult patients who underwent general anesthesia
 between January 2021 and June 2021 for elective abdominal surgery requiring a nasogastric tube
 (NGT) insertion. Olfactory function [Brief Smell Identification Test (B-SIT)] was evaluated prior to surgery
 and four weeks post-surgery in all the patients. The demographic characteristics of the patients, duration
 of NGT application, and B-SIT scores before and after NGT application were recorded. B-SIT scores
 were recorded separately for the NGT-applied and non-NGT-applied nasal side.
 Results: The mean NGT application time was 3.4 ± 1.5 (3-7) days. The mean preoperative and
 postoperative B-SIT scores of the NGT-applied side were 5.20 ± 2.06 and 5.01 ± 2.02, respectively.
 There was no statistically significant difference between the mean preoperative and postoperative B-SIT
 scores of the NGT-applied side (p = 0.421). The mean pre- and postoperative B-SIT scores of the
 patients in the non-NGT-applied nasal side group were 5.28 ± 2.16 and 5.11 ± 2.07, respectively. No
 statistically significant difference was found in the mean preoperative and postoperative B-SIT scores in
 the non-NGT-applied nasal side (p = 0.370). No statistically significant difference was found in the mean
 preoperative and postoperative B-SIT scores between the NGT-applied and non-NGT-applied nasal
 sides, respectively (p = 0.890, p = 0.654).
 Conclusion: The result of our study showed that there was no change in the olfactory function of
 patients after nasogastric intubation.