Outcomes of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Adults with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Introduction  Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare inherited disease associated with impairment of mucociliary transport and, consequently, with a high incidence of chronic rhinosinusitis. For patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who remain symptomatic despite medical treatment, endoscopic sinus surgery is a safe and effective therapeutic option. However, to date, no studies have been found evaluating the effect of surgery on the quality of life associated with the effect on olfaction and nasal endoscopy findings of patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia and chronic rhinosinusitis. Objective  To describe the effect of endoscopic sinus surgery on the quality of life, on olfaction, and on nasal endoscopy findings of adults with PCD and chronic rhinosinusitis. Methods  Four patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery were included. The Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) score, the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaire, and the Lund-Kennedy score were collected preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. The olfaction as assessed with the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), which was administered preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Results  A total of 4 patients with a mean age of 39.3 years old (3 men and 1 woman) completed the study. All patients showed clinically significant improvement in the SNOT-22, NOSE, and Lund-Kennedy scores at 3 months postoperatively, and this improvement was sustained throughout the follow-up period. However, olfaction did not improve after surgery. Conclusion  The endoscopic sinus surgery treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis in adults with PCD was associated with improvement in quality of life and endoscopic findings. However, no improvement in olfaction was demonstrated. Studies with a larger number of patients and control groups should help confirm these findings.