One year after endoscopic sinus surgery in polyposis: asthma, olfaction, and quality-of-life outcomes

Abstract

Objective: Nasal polyposis is a disease known to be associated with asthma. The long-term effects of surgical treatment on lower airways have not been sufficiently studied.

Study design: One-year follow-up of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Setting: The study was conducted at the Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Subjects and methods: Fifty-one patients, age 18 years or older, with nasal polyposis and asthma were evaluated 1 year after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Outcomes included dyspnea/cough scores, mean daily peak expiratory flow rate, spirometry, butanol test, olfaction scores, peak nasal inspiratory flow, polyp scores, and health-related quality of life (SF-36).

Results: The short-term postsurgery improvements in asthma symptom scores, daily peak expiratory flow rate, all nasal parameters including olfaction, and quality-of-life scores were generally maintained 1 year after ESS.

Conclusion: Endoscopic sinus surgery had beneficial long-term effects on asthma, olfaction, and quality of life in patients with nasal polyposis. This is the first study to show long-term benefits of ESS on butanol tests in patients with nasal polyposis.