Submucous resection for deviated nasal septum: a critical appraisal

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Outcomes
• Rhinology

Background:

• Submucous resection (SMR) for deviated nasal septum faces criticism regarding complication rates and patient satisfaction compared to septoplasty.
• Evaluating SMR's efficacy and safety is crucial for surgical decision-making in treating nasal septum deviation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the complication rates, symptom relief, and long-term patient satisfaction following submucous resection (SMR) for deviated nasal septum.
• To compare the outcomes of SMR with reported outcomes of septoplasty.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study of 75 patients who underwent SMR for deviated nasal septum.
• Post-operative follow-up ranged from 6 to 56 months, assessing complications and symptom resolution.

Main Results:

• Low complication rates observed: septal hematoma (1.3%), infection (1.3%), epistaxis (2.6%), external deformity (9.3%), and perforation (2.7%).
• Short-term relief of nasal obstruction was high (93.4%), but 30% experienced persistent/recurrent obstruction long-term.
• Significant improvement in associated symptoms like snoring (34.9%), headache (33.3%), rhinorrhea (24.1%), sneezing (30.4%), hyposmia (60.9%), and epistaxis (43.8%) was noted.
• Overall long-term patient satisfaction reached nearly 70%.

Conclusions:

• Submucous resection (SMR) demonstrates acceptable complication rates and patient satisfaction, comparable to septoplasty.
• Despite some long-term obstruction recurrence, SMR remains a valuable and relatively straightforward surgical option for deviated nasal septum.