Septoplasty Outcome Using Snot- 22 Questionnaire Study

Abstract

Objective: Sino Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) Questionnaire study was done to analyse the effectiveness of septoplasty surgery by noting the improvement of nasal symptoms & general quality of life(QOL) by means of SNOT-22 questionnaire given to patients before the surgery and 8 weeks after the surgery. Analysis of effectiveness of septoplasty is usually done by noting pre and post operative symptoms. Study Design; This is a prospective study and our data analysis consisted originally of 76 patients of which 70 patients answered the SNOT-22 questions both preoperatively and postoperatively. The age group of the patients was between 18 to 55 years. Results; 60 patients(86% of the patients) who had mild to moderate symptoms(with SNOT-22 scoring < 40 points), and also young patients(<30 years) showed much improvement with the symptoms with relief from nasal obstruction after surgery. In the post operative SNOT-22, the need to blow nose, sneezing, running nose, nasal obstruction, loss of smell or taste, post nasal discharge, facial pain/pressure, difficulty in falling asleep, waking up at night lack of good night's sleep, wake up tired, reduced productivity and embarrassed improved significantly. Conclusion: Evaluation of symptoms & findings in the patient is essential in deciding whether surgery or other treatment can be done in individual patient having nasal blockage symptoms. The results are encouraging us to use the systematic questionnaire (SNOT-22) to estimate the severity of symptoms in daily clinical practice.