[Quality of life before and after surgery in patients with nasal polyposis]

The postoperative symptoms, paranasal computed tomography (CT) findings and quality of life of the patients who had undergone surgical treatment for nasal polyposis were evaluated.

This study included 32 patients (18 females, 14 males; mean age 43 years; range 14 to 64 years) who applied to our clinic between January 2008 and January 2009 and were operated on with diagnosis of pure nasal polyps. In addition, 36 healthy volunteers were randomized to the control group. The patients were evaluated before and after surgery, on the 3rd week and 3rd month with routine ear nose and throat physical examination and through the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire as the nasal symptom scores and quality of life. The SF-36 questionnaire was used in the control group as well. In this SF-36 questionnaire the patients were evaluated for eight domains. Control paranasal CT findings at 6th months after surgery were compared with the CT findings before surgery.

We determined improvement of nasal symptoms in patients (nasal obstruction, headache, loss of sense of smell, rhinorrhea and posterior rhinorrhea) at the 3rd week and 3rd month after surgery compared to before surgery (p<0.05). We also determined improvement in the domains of SF-36 questionnaire (general healthy, physical functioning, problems of emotional role, social functioning, pain, vitality and mental health) at the 3rd week and 3rd month after surgery compared to before surgery (p<0.05). Control paranasal CT findings of patients at 6th months after surgery was also improved significantly compared to before (p<0.001).

We determined improvement in all symptoms and quality of life for a short period of time after the surgical treatment performed on patients with nasal polyposis. The paranasal CT has an important place for diagnosis and treatment.