Evaluation of sinonasal-related quality of life of 49 patients undergoing endoscopic skull base surgery

Abstract Objective This study aimed to evaluate the sinonasal-related Quality of Life (QoL) in patients undergoing endoscopic skull base surgery. Methods A retrospective study was performed, including patients with benign and malignant tumors at a single institution. Each patient completed the 22-Item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and the Empty Nose Syndrome 6 Item Questionnaires (ENS6Q) to assess their perceived QoL at least 2-months after treatment. Results Forty-nine patients were enrolled in this study. The average score was 25.1 (Stander Deviation [SD] 14.99) for SNOT-22 and 6.51 (SD = 5.58) for ENS6Q. Analysis of the overall results for the SNOT-22 showed that olfactory damage was the most serious syndrome. The most frequently reported high-severity sub-domains in SNOT-22 were nasal symptoms and sleep symptoms. Nasal crusting was the most severe item in ENS6Q according to the report. Nine patients (18.4%) had a score higher than 10.5 which indicates the high risk of Empty Nose Syndrome (ENS). SNOT-22 score was related to the history of radiotherapy (p < 0.05), while the ENS6Q score was not. Conclusions The possibility of patients suffering from ENS after nasal endoscopic skull base surgery is at a low level, although the nasal cavity structure is damaged to varying degrees. Meanwhile, patients undergoing endoscopic skull base surgery were likely to suffer nasal problems and sleep disorders. Patients who had received radiotherapy have a worse QoL than those without a history of radiotherapy. Level of evidence Level 3.

The predicting role of postoperative changes in self-reported symptoms in patients with recurrence eosinophilic chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective:To investigate whether changes in postoperative symptoms and signs in patients can predict the recurrence of ECRS after nasal endoscopic sinus surgery. Methods:A total of 70 adult patients with ECRS were enrolled for ESS surgery from June 2020 to March 2022 in a single center. There were 50 males and 20 females, with an average age of （46.9±14.5） years. Follow-up after ESS was at least 52 weeks. Patients undergo peripheral blood tests, CT of the sinuses, olfactory T&T test, visual analogue scale of symptoms（VAS）, and endoscopic scoring. Results:VAS scores and endoscopic scores were analyzed at preoperative and 6th week, 12th week, 24th week and 52th week postoperative. After 12th week postoperatively, there was a clear correlation between symptom scores and endoscopic scores. Moreover, olfactory disorder and nasal discharge were the two most obvious symptoms. There were differences in the expression of multiple preoperative clinical inflammatory indicators between the symptom-controled group and the symptom-uncontrolled group（previous surgical history, concomitant asthma, nasal smear eosinophil, serum EOS%, total IgE, CT score, olfactory score, and symptom score, all with P<0.05）, while there was no difference in baseline endoscopic score（P>0.05）. At 12th week postoperative, the two groups of patients showed significant differences in both symptom scores and endoscopic scores. The symptoms and endoscopic score at the 12th week point of follow-up were used as predictive indicators for recurrence, with sensitivity and specificity of 62.5% and 83.3%, respectively. Conclusion:The changes in postoperative symptom score and endoscopic score in ECRSwNP patients indicated that the recurred ECRS. In the symptom-uncontrolled group, symptomatic and endoscopic scores showed consistent increased scores; In the symptom-controlled group, conflicting results between increased endoscopic scores and stable symptoms suggest that the presence of asymptomatic recurrence must be considered. The changes in symptoms and signs at the 12th week point of follow-up can serve as clinical indicators for preventing disease recurrence.

The role of combination of traditional Chinese and western medicine on severe allergic rhinitis / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To explore the effects of combination of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)and western medicine on a variety of allergen induced severe perennial seasonal allergic rhinitis patients who were treated invalidly with antihistamines and intranasal flixonase for more than two years.Methods 16 patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis who were uncontrolled with antihistamines and intranasal flixonase for one week were treated by combination with TCM of Xin-Yi-Qing-fei San or Gyokubeifu-san mixed formula for two weeks.Nasal symptoms,its effects on the quality of daily life,and telephone follow-up half a year later were evaluated.Mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (Mini-RQLQ) and Nocturnal Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (NRQLQ) were used to evaluate the quality of life.Results After 2 weeks combination-treatment,the nasal symptoms of congestion,rhinorrhea,sneezing,nasal itching,and nasal obstruction were significantly improved compared with combination-before [(52.0± 11.1)％,(69.1±5.3)％,(68.3±12.3)％,(55.5±10.0)％to (10.9±2.4)％,(8.9±3.2)％,(12.5±4.3)％,(13.2±5.3)％,respectively].The before and after treatment of nasal function of nasal minimum cross-sectional area (MCA),nasal cavity volume (V5) and nasal airway resistance (R75 and R150) respectively were (0.58±0.12)cm2,(0.38 ± 0.23) Pa/cm3 · s-1,(0.44 ± 0.32) Pa/cm3 · s-1,(3.50 ± 2.33) cm2 to (0.48 ± 0.23) cm2,(0.31 ±0.33) Pa/cm3 · s-1,(0.31 ±0.37)Pa/cm3 · s-1,(2.24± 1.03) cm2 (P＜0.01).In addition,findings of patients with nasal symptoms by half year follow-up were significantly better than those of before.Conclusion The interventionof TCM can effectively control the perennial and seasonal severe symptoms of patients with AR,and improve the quality of life of patients.

Environmental controls in reducing house dust mites and nasal symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis

A randomized comparison group pretest-posttest experimental design was used to quantitatively determine the effects of environmental control measures on patients with allergic rhinitis. Environmental controls included wrapping the mattress with a vinyl cover, washing the top bedding cover with 55 degrees C hot water every two weeks, removal of soft furniture, and wet cleaning of the bedroom floor every day. Thirty subjects were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The amount of house dust mites in dust samples collected from the bedroom floor, bedding and mattress, as well as the nasal symptoms of patients, were measured twice at one-month intervals. A significant decrease in house dust mites in dust samples and relief in patients' nasal symptoms were observed in the experimental group who had environmental controls.