Do Nasal Surgeries Affect Mucociliary Clearance?

The study was conducted to assess the impact of different nasal surgeries on the nasal mucociliary clearance mechanism. Mucociliary function of the nasal mucosa of patients who were undergoing various nasal surgeries was assessed by the Saccharin test by placing 5 mg saccharin granule on the anterior end of the inferior turbinate 1 day prior to the surgery. The time required for the test subject to experience a sweet taste was measured in minutes. Post-operatively the test was repeated 6 weeks after the surgery and the test times were compared. A total of 60 patients were part of this study. Of the 60 cases, 19 cases had undergone only septoplasty, 13 cases had undergone only functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), 25 cases had undergone septoplasty with FESS, 2 cases underwent septoplasty with bilateral partial inferior turbinectomy (PIT) and one case was submucous resection (SMR). Significant improvement in nasal mucociliary clearance was observed in all the patients after the procedures. Out of the 19 cases of septoplasty, 57.9 % showed improvement on the right side and 47.4 % on the left side. Out of the 13 cases of FESS, 61.5 % showed improvement on the right side and 69.2 % on the left side. Out of the 25 cases of FESS with septoplasty, 76.0 % showed improvement on both sides. The case of SMR did not show improvement. The 2 cases of septoplasty with PIT showed improvement. Statistically, highly significant improvement of test time was seen postoperatively as compared to pre-operatively. Among the surgical procedures, FESS with septoplasty showed better improvement as compared to the other procedures. Based on the study, we can conclude that nasal surgeries done for correction of septal deviation and rhino sinusitis significantly improves nasal mucociliary clearance mechanism thereby improving the physiological functions of the upper airway.