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The risk to olfaction from nasal surgery
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York.
The Laryngoscope
|August 1, 1994
Summary
Most patients undergoing nasal surgery maintain or improve their sense of smell. While some experience a decline in olfactory function, severe loss is rare, with no significant impact from age, gender, or surgery type.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neurosurgery
- Rhinology
Background:
- Nasal surgery carries a risk of olfactory dysfunction due to potential injury to the olfactory neuroepithelium.
- Indirect factors like medications, anatomical changes, and inflammation can also impair smell after surgery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of various nasal surgeries on olfactory function.
- To identify factors influencing olfactory acuity changes post-surgery.
Main Methods:
- The study involved 93 patients undergoing diverse nasal surgeries (ethmoidectomy, polypectomy, rhinoplasty, etc.).
- Olfactory ability was assessed using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT).
- Factors analyzed included age, gender, anesthesia type, and surgical procedure.
Main Results:
- 66% of patients showed improved or unchanged UPSIT scores post-surgery.
- 34% experienced a decline in olfactory scores.
- Only 1% of patients became anosmic; no significant effect of age, gender, operation type, or anesthetic was found.
Conclusions:
- Nasal surgery generally has a neutral to positive effect on olfactory function for most patients.
- While olfactory decline can occur, it is not significantly influenced by patient demographics or surgical approach.
- The risk of permanent smell loss (anosmia) is very low.