Impact of septoplasty on pulmonary function

Abstract

Background: Deviated nasal septum (DNS) is the most common cause of upper airway obstruction, and septoplasty is the surgery of choice for its correction. There seems a relationship between upper airway and lower airway. Spirometry is the easily available method to analyze pulmonary function. Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives of this study were to assess the changes in pulmonary function after surgical correction of DNS for nasal obstruction. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 patients with DNS with the complaints of nasal obstruction underwent septoplasty were selected. Pre- and post-surgery (after 1 month) spirometry was done on these patients, and the results were analyzed using various statistical tools for difference in spirometry findings depending on age group, gender, and duration of disease. Results: There was an improvement in pulmonary function indices 1 month after surgery, and it was both clinically and statistically significant. The improvement was more in younger age group as compared to middle age group, and it was more in nasal obstruction of shorter duration. There was no significant difference in improvement among males and females. Conclusion: There is a strong correlation between treatment for nasal obstruction and improvement in pulmonary function which is more significant for younger age groups and nasal obstruction of shorter duration.