Evaluation of nasal patency by visual analogue scale/nasal obstruction symptom evaluation questionnaires and anterior active rhinomanometry after septoplasty: a retrospective one-year follow-up cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of septoplasty and the correlation between the subjective evaluations of a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaire and active anterior rhinomanometry of the nasal airway after septoplasty.


METHODS
A retrospective, individual cohort study.


METHODS
Ear, Nose and Throat Department, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.


METHODS
Fifty patients with chronic nasal obstruction were enrolled in the study. All 50 patients underwent septoplasty because of nasal septal deviation. Another 28 patients without nasal symptoms served as controls.


METHODS
VAS, NOSE and active anterior rhinomanometry were used to measure the sensation of nasal obstruction. All measurements were performed in both groups preoperatively and then repeated on three postoperative visits (3, 6 and 12 months).


RESULTS
The mean VAS score, NOSE score and the nasal resistance in the narrow side of the nose in the study group showed reduced symptoms at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively compared with the respective preoperative measurements (P < 0.001, all). The VAS and NOSE scores did not significantly correlate with total nasal resistance preoperatively or postoperatively. The VAS and nasal resistance in the obstructed nasal cavity correlated significantly preoperatively (P < 0.05), but not postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
The subjective and objective symptoms of nasal obstruction had improved 1 year after septoplasty. A significant correlation between VAS scores and nasal resistance in the narrow side of the nose was found before surgery. The subjective and objective measurements of nasal obstruction lacked significant correlation postoperatively.
Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
H C
HC
Hsu
Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taiwan National University, Taipei, Taiwan.
C D
CD
Tan
Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
C W
CW
Chang
Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
C W
CW
Chu
Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Y C
YC
Chiu
Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
C J
CJ
Pan
Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
H M
HM
Huang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D012225:Rhinoplasty; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064232:Visual Analog Scale