The impact of pre-operative computed tomography scan in patients underwent septoplasty on the postoperative complications

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Deviated nasal septum (DNS) is one of the most frequent causes of nasal obstruction in adults. An anterior rhinoscopy (AR), which is usually the first diagnostic procedure in the evaluation of obstructive nasal pathologies, is often inadequate in the assessment of the posterior nasal cavity and the gold standard method for the evaluation of paranasal anatomy and inflammatory paranasal sinus pathologies is paranasal sinus computed tomography (PNS CT). Aim was to validate the recommendation of pre-operative computed tomography scan in minimizing post-septoplasty complications.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A retrospective record based study was conducted including all patients with clinically diagnosed DNS and undergone surgical intervention at Khamis Mushayet General Hospital. Data extracted included patients demographic data, and post-operative recorded complications and history of preoperative CT scan for evaluating and grading DNS. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> A total sample of 60 patients’ undergone septoplasty for DNS. Patients who undergone preoperative CT were 30. The remaining 30 patients didn’t undergone pre-operative CT for evaluation of DNS. The most diagnosed complication was nasal obstruction (28.3%) followed by external nose deformity (20%). Exact of 47% of patients had postoperative nasal obstruction didn’t undergone pre-operative CT. About 42% of those who had postoperative nasal deformity didn’t undergone CT while 33% of patient who had post-operative bleeding and septal perforation didn’t undergone CT.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> In conclusion, the study revealed that preoperative CT showed insignificant efficacy in relieving nasal obstruction or minimizing postoperative complications.</p>