RECOVERY OF NASAL PHYSIOLOGY AFTER FUNCTIONAL ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY - OLFACTION AND MUCOCILIARY TRANSPORT

We assessed the changes in olfaction and mucociliary transport after f unctional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) in 80 patients with chronic paranasal sinusitis. Olfaction was evaluated with the butanol threshol d test and mucociliary transport was assessed by saccharin transit tim e (STT). Postoperative butanol threshold scores were significantly red uced (p < 0.01), and the changes were more profound in severer forms o f paranasal sinusitis as graded by ostiomeatal-unit computed tomograph y. The mean preoperative STT (27 min) which was significantly longer t han that of controls (12 min) was significantly reduced 1, 6 and 12 mo nths following FESS (p < 0.01). The results suggest that impairment of olfaction and mucociliary transport in chronic paranasal sinusitis ma y be significantly improved following FESS.