Clinical value of olfactory function tests after endoscopic sinus surgery:A short-term result

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is now the surgical procedure of choice for treating chronic sinusitis in patients of all ages. We performe d the olfactory function test before and after FESS and assessed its clinic al value. From February 1996 through July 1996 50 bilateral sinusitis patie nts had received FESS, butanol threshold test, and odor identification test , performed preoperatively: at postoperative I month, and at postoperative 2 months. We analyzed preoperative computed tomography to determine the gra de of sinusitis and status of the olfactory cleft. The status of the olfact ory cleft significantly influenced the preoperative olfactory threshold sco re (p < 0.001). At 2 months postoperatively, the subjective symptoms of the patients were improved in 96% and objective olfactory threshold were impro ved in 68% of patients. There was no correlation between subjective symptom s and olfactory threshold improvement. Our study suggests that the olfactor y threshold test may help predict the result of FESS, but for more accurate and reliable assessment, we should consider other objective methods like a nterior rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry: ciliary beat frequency: and po stoperative endoscopic findings.