The Effect of Smoking on Outcome in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study is designed to assess the effect of smoking on the outcome of endoscopic sinus surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 66 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery with the diagnosis of chronic sinusitis were evaluated. They were divided into 3 groups; non-smoking, quit-smoking and still-smoking groups. Preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS), Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT), and endoscopic score for each group were obtained and compared. RESULTS: There were statistically significant correlations between VAS, SNOT score and smoking. However, all patients showed a similar degree of improvement on the subjective symptoms regardless of smoking or nonsmoking. And, postoperative relief of subjective symptoms was not apparent after smoking cessation. In objective findings, postoperative endoscopic scores were 1.6 in non-smoking group, 1.8 in quit-smoking group and 2.7 in still-smoking group. Stillsmoking group had the worst endoscopic result, However, these differences did not reach a statistical significance. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that smoking had a negative effect on subjective symptoms but not in objective endoscopic findings. In addition, the cessation of smoking after sinus surgery may have no meaningful benefit on the outcome of surgery.