Abstract
Recent studies have indicated the usefulness of endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EETSA). A few studies have reported on the postoperative nasal symptoms of patients who have undergone EETSA. Therefore, we adopted a rhinologic perspective to compare preoperative and postoperative nasal symptoms after performing a binostril, four-hand EETSA. Patients who were scheduled to undergo binostril, four-hand EETSA underwent preoperative nasal evaluation using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE), Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-20 (SNOT-20), and a visual analogue scale (VAS) to assess several nasal symptoms. Repeat testing was performed 6 months postoperatively. Paired Student’s t tests were used to compare preoperative and postoperative scores. A total of 142 patients who underwent a binostril, four-hand EETSA were included in this study. We found no statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative NOSE, total SNOT-20 scores, or scores on the VAS for nasal obstruction, sneezing, rhinorrhea, snoring, or facial pain. However, VAS of olfactory change increased significantly after EETSA (p < 0.05). The binostril, four-hand EETSA would be a useful method because it permits operative manipulability and a wide visual field for skull base lesions. However, rhinologists must consider postoperative nasal symptoms and perform a proper preoperative examination, especially with regard to the olfactory function, and inform patients scheduled for EETSA of potential postoperative changes.
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This research was supported by Seoul St. Mary’s Clinical Medical Research Program year of 2010 through the Catholic University of Korea.
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Kim, BY., Son, H.L., Kang, SG. et al. Postoperative nasal symptoms associated with an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 270, 1355–1359 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-012-2226-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-012-2226-x