Mouth breathing – A predictor for patient satisfaction after nasal septoplasty?

Background: No reliable marker exists to predict septoplasty outcome. Most patients suffering from nasal airway obstruction (NAO) caused by a deviation of the nasal septum report a bothersome mouth breathing and dryness. In this study our aim was to assess, whether mouth breathing could be objectified in these patients and whether mouth breathing could predict septoplasty outcome. Methods: A monocentric, prospective case-control study of 21 patients was conducted. The proportion of mouth breathing was measured in a blinded manner. As a measurement of patient satisfaction, subjective symptoms pre- and postoperatively, were assessed by using VAS, NOSE and SNOT-20 score. In the patient group an additional acoustic rhinometry and a clinical examination of the nose were performed. Results: With a mean of 25% (SD = 20%) the proportion of mouth breathing in patients with NAO did not differ significantly from the proportion in controls without NAO, with a mean of 27% (SD = 23%). Analysis of subjective scores revealed a significant reduction of subjective symptoms after septoplasty. A higher preoperative proportion of mouth breathing correlated with more remaining postoperative NAO. Conclusions: The percentage of mouth breathing is no different in patients with symptomatic septal deviation than in control patients. Mouth breathing in patients with NAO, evaluated for septoplasty, could be a negative predictive factor for patient satisfaction after nasal septoplasty. Mouth breathing in these patients should be observed carefully because more preoperative mouth breathing should make one more hesitant to consider septoplasty.

Readability and quality assessment of internet-based patient education materials related to nasal septoplasty

Background Given that nasal septoplasty is a common procedure in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery, the objective of this study was to evaluate the quality and readability of online patient education materials on septoplasty. Methods A Google search was performed using eight different search terms related to septoplasty. Six different tools were used to assess the readability of included patient education materials. These included the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Flesch Reading Ease, Gunning-Fog Index, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook Index, Coleman-Liau Index, and Automated Readability Index. The DISCERN tool was used to assess quality and reliability. Results Eighty-five online patient education materials were included. The average Flesch-Reading Ease score for all patient education materials was 54.9 ± 11.5, indicating they were fairly difficult to read. The average reading grade level was 10.5 ± 2.0, which is higher than the recommended reading level for patient education materials. The mean DISCERN score was 42.9 ± 10.5 and 42% (36/85) of articles had DISCERN scores less than 39, corresponding to poor or very poor quality. Conclusion The majority of online patient education materials on septoplasty are written above the recommended reading levels and have significant deficiencies in terms of their quality and reliability. Clinicians and patients should be aware of the shortcomings of these resources and consider the impact they may have on patients’ decision making.

Septal deviation correction methods and surgical considerations in turbinoplasty

Nasal septoplasty is often required to correct a cosmetic deformity, which is a common reason for patients to present to a plastic surgeon. If nasal septoplasty is insufficient, a residual deformity or nasal obstruction may remain after surgery. Even if the nasal septum is corrected to an appropriate position, nasal congestion could be exacerbated if the turbinate on the other side is not also corrected. Therefore, appropriate treatment is required based on the condition of the turbinates. Herein, we survey recent trends in treatment and review previous research papers on turbinoplasty procedures that can be performed alongside nasal septoplasty.

A prediction modeling based on SNOT-22 score for endoscopic nasal septoplasty: a retrospective study

Background To create a nomogram prediction model for the efficacy of endoscopic nasal septoplasty, and the likelihood of patient benefiting from the operation. Methods A retrospective analysis of 155 patients with nasal septum deviation (NSD) was performed to develop a predictive model for the efficacy of endoscopic nasal septoplasty. Quality of life (QoL) data was collected before and after surgery using Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) scores to evaluate the surgical outcome. An effective surgical outcome was defined as a SNOT-22 score change ≥ 9 points after surgery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was then used to establish a predictive model for the NSD treatment. The predictive quality and clinical utility of the predictive model were assessed by C-index, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis. Results The identified risk factors for inclusion in the predictive model were included. The model had a good predictive power, with a AUC of 0.920 in the training group and a C index of 0.911 in the overall sample. Decision curve analysis revealed that the prediction model had a good clinical applicability. Conclusions Our prediction model is efficient in predicting the efficacy of endoscopic surgery for NSD through evaluation of factors including: history of nasal surgery, preoperative SNOT-22 score, sinusitis, middle turbinate plasty, BMI, smoking, follow-up time, seasonal allergies, and advanced age. Therefore, it can be cost-effective for individualized preoperative assessment.