Preoperative prognostic factors for olfactory change after functional endoscopic sinus surgery

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Rhinology
• Olfactory dysfunction

Background:

• Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) often impairs olfactory function.
• Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a common treatment for CRS.
• Predictors of olfactory improvement after FESS remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors influencing olfactory function improvement post-FESS in CRS patients.
• To identify prognostic indicators for olfactory outcomes after sinus surgery.

Main Methods:

• 70 CRS patients undergoing FESS were evaluated.
• Olfactory function assessed pre-FESS and 6 months post-FESS using multiple tests.
• Potential prognostic factors included nasal obstruction, CT scores, and comorbidities.

Main Results:

• Nasal obstruction, CT scores, and preoperative olfactory loss did not significantly predict olfactory improvement.
• Nasal polyps or allergic rhinitis presence did not reliably influence olfactory outcomes.
• Acoustic rhinometry measurements also showed no significant correlation with olfactory gains.

Conclusions:

• Nasal obstruction, disease extent, and comorbidities like nasal polyps or allergic rhinitis do not predict olfactory improvement after FESS.
• Further research is needed to identify reliable predictors of olfactory outcomes in CRS patients treated with FESS.