title: Acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry and visual analogue scale before and after septal surgery: a prospective 10-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to compare rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry and subjective estimation of the nasal obstruction before and after septoplasty and to evaluate the long-term results of septal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective long-term follow-up, before and after septoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  University tertiary-care hospital, referral centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 30 adult patients who were operated on because of septal deviation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre-operatively, acoustic rhinometry and active anterior rhinomanometry were performed on each subject after decongestion of the nose. A visual analogue scale for unilateral nasal obstruction was filled in by the patients. The measurements were repeated both 6 months and 10 years post-operatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant change in acoustic values was found during the long-term follow-up of 10 years. The mean minimal cross-sectional area on the more obstructive side was 0.35 cm(2) pre-operatively. Six months after operation, it was 0.52 cm(2), and 10 years after operation, it was 0.68 cm(2). The mean resistance fell from pre-operative 1.16 Pa/mL/s to 0.41 Pa/mL/s during the first 6 months, but rose again to 1.21 Pa/mL/s after 10 years. Despite a tendency of improvement, no statistically significant change was found between pre-operative and postoperative values in VAS. Six months after operation 69% of the patients were satisfied with the result, and after ten years the amount of satisfied patients was 83%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found an increase in acoustic values, but an increase in nasal resistance in the long-term follow-up. Other factors than nasal area may have an impact on nasal resistance and the feeling of nasal obstruction. The small size on the sample interfered with the results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. lotta.haavisto@tyks.fi
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Haavisto
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Sipilä
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic; D063128:Tertiary Health Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome