Patient-reported olfactory function following endoscopic sinus surgery with modified endoscopic Lothrop procedure /...

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurosurgery
• Rhinology

Background:

• Chronic frontal sinusitis refractory to standard treatments necessitates advanced surgical interventions.
• The Modified Endoscopic Lothrop procedure (MELP), or Draf 3, is a complex surgery for such cases.
• MELP involves drilling the frontal T, potentially impacting olfactory neurons and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the subjective sense of smell in patients following the Modified Endoscopic Lothrop procedure.
• To evaluate the impact of MELP on olfactory function in patients with refractory chronic frontal sinusitis.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study analyzing retrospective data from 68 patients who underwent MELP between 2003 and 2008.
• Post-operative questionnaires assessed subjective olfactory perception.
• Pre-operative smell assessments and patient records (asthma, nasal polyps, Samter's triad) were reviewed.

Main Results:

• The majority of patients reported improved sense of smell after MELP.
• 39 patients experienced smell improvement, 20 reported no change, and 9 reported worsening.
• No significant correlation was found between olfactory outcomes and asthma, nasal polyps, or Samter's triad.

Conclusions:

• The Modified Endoscopic Lothrop procedure (Draf 3) generally has a positive effect on subjective sense of smell.
• MELP can be an effective treatment for refractory chronic frontal sinusitis with favorable olfactory outcomes.