How do different climatic conditions affect the quality of life of patients following septoplasty or septorhinoplasty?

Abstract

ObjectivesThe effects of different climatic conditions on the quality of life (QoL) of patients following septoplasty or septorhinoplasty were investigated. MethodsA total of 89 patients (47 males and 42 females) underwent either septoplasty or septorhinoplasty during the summer (summer group, n = 42) or winter (winter group, n = 47) season. To assess QoL, SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT)-22, Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, and Visual Analogue Scale were used. Postoperative (PO) pain, bleeding, and symptoms related to nasal packing (eating and sleep problems) were also evaluated. ResultsPO pain scores were lower in the winter group than that in the summer group (p<0.05). After pack removal, there was a slight serohemorrhagic nasal discharge in 2.1% of the patients in the winter group, but no patient required intervention. Slight leakage was detected in 47.6% of the patients and 2.4% of the patients called for intervention (p<0.05) in the summer group. The SNOT-22 values did not differ between the groups (p>0.05). NOSE scores in the winter group were higher than that in the summer group (p<0.05). In each group, SNOT-22 (padjusted<0.175) and NOSE scores (p<0.05) were lower at 1 month after surgery. The winter group patients rated headache, facial pain, and nasal crusting higher than those in the summer group did (p<0.05). However, nasal discharge and loss of smell were less troubling in the summer group than that in the winter group (p<0.05). ConclusionRegardless of climate or season, septoplasty or septorhinoplasty increases patients’ QoL. However, problematic PO bleeding was detected at a higher frequency in patients who underwent surgery in summer. The advantage of surgery in winter is that it leads to less frequent problematic bleeding PO.