Evaluation of sense of nasal obstruction after nasal surgery

ABSTRACT

Sense of nasal air flow is very important as regard patient comfort. 25 patients operated upon for rhinoplasty, septoplasty and S.M.R. were asked about sense of nasal obstruction pre and post operatively and were compared with nasal flow meter measurements. 10 healthy persons without nasal complaint were taken as control group. There was mismatch between postoperative subjective sensation of obstruction and objective improvement in air flow study, especially in septoplasly and rhinoplasty operations. With follow up the subjective sensation of nasal obstruction has disappeared. This has been explained by cutting of nerve fibres in the region of vestibule which are thermo receptors and responsible for sensation of air flow