Mucociliary function in the early weeks after nasal surgery

A prospective trial was carried out to assess whether mucociliary clearance (MCC) is either adversely affected or improved in the early weeks after nasal surgery. Three different subgroups of patients were studied: those having septoplasty, nasal polypectomy, or turbinectomy. MCC was assessed by the saccharine transport method. 40% of patients with deviated nasal septum, 59% of patients with nasal polyps, and 75% of patients with chronic rhinitis refractory to medical treatment (turbinectomy group) had abnormal MCC pre-operatively. At three weeks after operation there was no significant improvement or deterioration in MCC either in the whole patient population or in any of the three subgroups. Persisting mucociliary dysfunction may be an important factor in causing post-operative stasis of secretions, crusting, secondary infection, delayed healing, and patient discomfort.