Postseptoplasty Quality of Life among Patients in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Deviated nasal septum is among the most common causes of nasal obstruction (NO) in adults. The efficacy of septoplasty for the treatment of septal deviation and the predictors of satisfactory surgical outcomes remains controversial. A significant improvement in the preoperative NO symptom evaluation score was noted after 3 months. Septoplasty resulted in a significant improvement in the disease-specific quality of life (QOL). Aim: The aim was to examine the postseptoplasty QoL and symptoms in patients in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A descriptive follow-up study was conducted to assess postseptoplasty QoL in patients who underwent surgery from 2020 to 2022. Patients with psychological, behavioral, and severe chronic health problems were excluded. Information on demographic data and postsurgical symptoms was collected. QoL was assessed using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 20 questionnaire. Results: A total of 246 patients who underwent septoplasty were included. Patients' age ranged from 19 to 55 years, with a mean age of 33.6 years. Furthermore, 148 (60.2%) patients were men and 104 (42.3%) were aged > 40 years. In terms of rhinological symptoms, 87.8% of the patients reported their need to blow nose, 82.9% had sneezing, 72.8% had a runny nose, 69.6% complained of thick nasal discharge, and 69.1% had postsurgical discharge. Furthermore, 43.5%, 43.9%, 41.1%, 40.7%, 32.9%, and 30.9% of the patients experienced NO, headache, oral breathing, sinusitis, smell disturbance, and snoring, respectively. Conclusions and Recommendations: A clinically significant improvement was noted in olfactory and rhinological symptoms after septoplasty and thus QoL. Psychological and otorhinological functions showed more improvement than rhinological functions.