Mucociliary function: Its variations with disease

Abstract

Introduction: This study compares the nasal mucociliary clearance time of patients with chronic sinusitis (pre- and postoperatively) and smokers, with controls, attending the ear, nose, and throat outpatient department at Southern Railway Headquarters Hospital, Perambur, Chennai. Materials and methods: Saccharin granule was used to study mucociliary clearance as it is safe, easy, fast, and reliable. A total of 32 patients in each group were studied. In chronic rhinosinusitis patients, the test was done preoperatively and 4 weeks postoperatively. Results: The average mucociliary clearance time pre- and post- operatively in chronic rhinosinusitis patients was 29.54 ± 28.68 and 12.17 ± 5.84 respectively. Cigarette smokers had a longer mucociliary clearance time (27.63 ± 21.11) compared with beedi smokers (24.04 ± 24.93). Controls had the fastest mucociliary clearance rate of 9.67 ± 4.62 among the study subjects. Conclusion: Surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis improves both the overall symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis and the protective functions of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Smokers had an impaired clearance rate compared with normals. As age advances, the mucociliary clearance rate becomes slower.