Exploring the influence of nasal morbidity on quality of life following endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery: a retrospective cohort study of 95 patients

AbstractThe endoscopic endonasal approach is more disruptive to normal anatomy (particularly nasal mucosa) than the transseptal submucosal microscopic approach. This may result in greater postoperative nasal morbidity, in turn reducing quality of life. We aimed to assess the severity and time course of nasal morbidity, and its impact on quality of life, following endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery in this retrospective cohort study. We identified 95 patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery for anterior skull base pathologies. Nasal-specific questions from the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) and the Anterior Skull Base inventory (ASB-12) were combined with quality-of-life questions. Patient demographics, diagnosis, and operative data were collected from electronic records. Age of the cohort ranged from 14 –83 years. Time elapsed since surgery ranged from 3–85 months. 85/95 (89%) felt that nasal morbidity associated with surgery was acceptable, given the underlying reason for, and outcome of surgery; 10/95 (11%) did not. 71/95 (75%) reported no change or improvement in olfaction 3-months followi ng surgery. 24/95 (25%) reported a deterioration in olfaction which was mild in 7%, moderate in 7%, and severe in 11%. Nasal crusting, nasal obstruction, and headache weremoderately problematic symptoms but improved significantly by 3-month follow-up. Nasal discharge, nasal pain, and nasal whistling weremildly problematic and improved significantly ...
Source: Neurosurgical Review - Category: Neurosurgery Source Type: research