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Background: Nasal obstruction is a frequent problem amongst patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Radiofrequency of the inferior turbinates (RFIT) is commonly utilized for inferior turbinate (IT) reduction but its effectiveness in SDB patients remains unproven. We aim to evaluate long-term objective and subjective nasal, olfactory and sleep outcomes following RFIT in SDB patients. Methods: Patients were assessed at baseline (T0) and at 3 months (T1), 6 months (T2) and 12 months (T3) following RFIT. At T0, T1, T2 and T3, the patients underwent objective assessments of their nasal airways and smell function and an evaluation of their quality-of-life, sinonasal, olfactory and sleep symptoms. Sleep studies were carried out at T0 and T2. Results: Seventeen patients (with a median age of 42 years) underwent RFIT. A statistically significant objective and subjective improvement of the patients' nasal airways was demonstrated at T1. No other statistically significant changes were observed in the patients' nasal airways, smell, sleep study parameters or patient-reported outcomes at the other follow-ups. A multivariate analysis confirmed a statistically significant influence of age (older), sex (male), a higher BMI, the presence of septal deviation and the presence of allergic rhinitis in some of the studies' parameters. A statistically significant objective and subjective improvement of the patients' nasal airways was confirmed in the fitted model when considering the influence of the available variables. Conclusions: Our study confirms that the benefits of RFIT alone in SDB patients are limited and possibly only in the short-term period. Patient-related variables can potentially influence the final outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasal irrigation is crucial following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), especially for managing chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). This study assessed the effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) irrigation during the post-ESS period of patients with CRS without nasal polyposis. In this prospective, single-blind randomized controlled trial, 49 patients (NAC, n = 24; saline, n = 25) undergoing ESS were assigned to receive either NAC or saline irrigations twice daily for a month. The preoperative and postoperative assessments conducted included Lund–Macka (LM) and Lund–Kennedy (LK) endoscopic scores, the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, and the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-20 (SNOT-20). At 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after the operation, endoscopic findings and symptoms were evaluated. Both groups showed no differences in age, sex, LM and LK scores, NOSE scale, and SNOT-20 preoperatively. In terms of the endoscopic findings regarding the sinonasal mucosa after ESS, the NAC group had slightly lower scores 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after the operation, but this difference was not statistically significant. The NAC group showed significant improvement in VAS scores, namely, postnasal drip (1.0, p = 0.041), smell dysfunction (0.8, p = 0.003), and crust (1.5, p = 0.034), compared to the control group's scores of 2.6, 4.7, and 3.6, respectively, 2 weeks after the operation, although no significant differences were observed in VAS scores for any symptoms 1 and 3 months after the operation. NAC was well tolerated, and no adverse events were reported. NAC irrigation showed benefits over saline irrigation in terms of improving postnasal drip, smell dysfunction, and crust after ESS for CRS without nasal polyposis in the immediate postoperative period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to establish normative values for Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score in adult Indian population without known sino-nasal diseases. The purpose was to fill a critical knowledge gap, providing insights into how various host factors influence SNOT-22 scores which seek to serve as reference for clinical studies, facilitating comparisons of symptom severity and aid in patient counselling based on specific score patterns. Methods: One thousand and twelve adults meeting inclusion criteria participated in the study. Participants provided demographic information, occupation details, addiction history, and medical background. They completed SNOT-22 questionnaire, grading their symptoms on Likert scale of 0–5 based on severity experienced in the past 2 weeks. The collected data were analysed to derive meaningful insights. Results: Mean SNOT-22 score for the study population was 6.80, with 90% scoring below 15, and 40% within 0–3 range. Females exhibited significantly lower mean scores than males. Residents of rural areas reported higher scores than urban counterparts. Education levels had no significant influence on scores. Occupational exposure to aeroallergens, addiction (especially tobacco), and a history of allergies, bronchial asthma, or atopy were associated with significantly higher SNOT-22 scores. Principal component analysis identified four distinct domains, with the nasal symptom domain consistently emerging as the major contributor to differences in subgroups with significantly different total SNOT-22 scores. Conclusion: The normative data and subgroup analyses established in this study serve as a foundation for future research, aiding clinicians in predicting symptoms and providing tailored counselling for individuals with sino-nasal pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis and related rhinologic disorders are common in routine otolaryngologic practice. Common presenting symptoms include nasal obstruction, facial pain, facial pressure, headache, and a subjective feeling of the face feeling "swollen," a perceptual distortion. No validated scale exists to assess facial pain in addition to perceptual distortion or headache. The objective was to develop a novel scale for assessment of facial symptoms experienced by patients presenting for rhinologic evaluation. Methods: This was a prospective validation cross-sectional study. A patient questionnaire, the 12-item Facial Complaints Evaluation Scale (FaCES-12), was created to evaluate facial symptoms based on clinical experience and the literature, including severity and timing of facial pain, facial pressure, facial perceptual swelling, and headache. Each item was assessed utilizing an 11-point Likert scale ranging from 0 to 10 in severity. Data was collected prospectively from 210 patients in 1 private and 2 academic otolaryngologic practices from August to December 2019 along with the PROMIS Pain Intensity Scale 3a and 22-Item Sino-nasal Outcome Test. Construct validity was determined using Pearson correlation and exploratory factor analysis. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were assessed by calculating Cronbach's alpha and assessing test-retest scores. Results: A new 12-item scale named FaCES-12 was developed. FaCES-12 demonstrated high reliability with a Cronbach's alpha of.94 and high test-retest reliability (r =.90). The scale revealed very strong correlation with the PROMIS Pain Intensity Scale 3a (r =.81) and moderate correlation with the Sino-nasal Outcome Test (r =.48). Exploratory factor analysis demonstrated the scale contained interrelated variables that measured unique components of facial sensations. Conclusion: The FaCES-12 is a valid and reliable instrument for use in the evaluation of facial symptoms. Further research into the application of this scale is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The chronic rhinosinusitis patient-reported outcome (CRS-PRO) is a recently published disease-specific questionnaire designed for CRS patients, with fewer entries and ease of completion. This study aimed to translate the CRS-PRO questionnaire into Chinese and assess its reliability, validity, and responsiveness to provide Chinese patients with a more concise and efficient subjective assessment instrument. Methods: The Chinese version of the CRS-PRO was created through forwardbackward translations and cultural adaptation. Here, 168 CRS patients (118 patients CRS with nasal polyps [CRSwNP] and 50 patients with CRS without nasal polyps [CRSsNP]) and 43 healthy individuals were enrolled. All participants completed the CRS-PRO, 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), and EuroQol five dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D) questionnaires preoperatively as well as 3 and 6 months after surgery. Results: The Chinese version of the CRS-PRO demonstrated good internal consistency, with a Cronbach's a of 0.813. It also exhibited a higher criterion validity (r=0.65, p<0.05) than the SNOT-22.Amoderate associationwas found between the CRS-PRO and objective indicators such as the Lund-Mackay and endoscopic scores. Furthermore, the CRS-PRO, like the SNOT-22, could clearly distinguish CRS patients from healthy subjects (p < 0.01), as well as between the CRSwNP and CRSsNP subtypes (p < 0.01). Additionally, changes in the CRS-PRO exhibited a larger effect size compared to changes in the SNOT-22 (Cohen's d = 1.05 and 0.93 vs. 0.71 and 0.90 for 3 and 6 months, respectively, all p < 0.01). Conclusions: The Chinese version of the CRS-PRO is a concise, reliable, and responsive instrument that can be utilized as a novel subjective evaluation tool for future clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective s : To conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis of published articles to assess the impact of inferior turbinate/meatus augmentation in patients diagnosed with empty nose syndrome (ENS). Data Sources: PubMed, Cochrane database, Embase, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar. Review Methods: Six databases were searched to December 2022. We retrieved studies evaluating improvements in refractory ENS‐related symptoms based on various patient‐reported outcome measures after inferior turbinate/meatus augmentation. Results: As a result of meta‐analysis, Sinonasal Outcome Test, Empty Nose Syndrome 6‐Item Questionnaire (ENS6Q), and depression scores were measured at 1 week; 1, 3, and 6 months; and later than 12 months after intervention for patients with ENS. All scores revealed significant symptom improvement. By reference to the minimal clinically important difference of the ENS6Q (6.25), inferior turbinate/meatus augmentation relieved the nasal symptoms of ENS in the long term. Although the improvements in anxiety scores at 1 week (0.4133 [−0.3366; 1.1633], 0.00, I2 = NA) and 1 month (0.4525 [−0.0529; 0.9579], I2 = 0.0%) were not statistically significant, the scores differed significantly at 3 months (0.7351 [0.4143; 1.0559], I2 = 28.4%), 6 months (0.8297 [0.6256; 1.0337], I2 = 37.2%), and longer than 12 months (0.7969 [0.4768; 1.1170], I2 = 0.0%). Conclusion: These data and analysis suggest that performing inferior turbinate/meatus augmentation on ENS patients may improve not only nasal symptom scores but also accompanying psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. Laryngoscope, 134:2005–2011, 2024 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intranasal administration of lysine aspirin (LAS) is a safe and effective method for aspirin treatment after desensitisation (ATAD). Changes in quality of life (QoL) in patients on intranasal LAS have not been documented and we aimed to investigate QoL in N-ERD patients on or off nasal ATAD. Moreover, an estimate of the cost burden of intranasal LAS is given. Methods: A cross-sectional review was conducted for all challenge-confirmed N-ERD patients who were in follow-up in our rhinology clinic. They were asked to complete a SNOT-22 questionnaire, a visual analogue scale for sense of smell (sVAS). Information on prices of LAS and other consumables used for intranasal ATAD was obtained from our hospital pharmacy to obtain an estimate of the cost burden. Results: Thirty-four patients replied to the email (79.1% response rate). Of these, 21 (61.8%) were on intranasal LAS. A statistically significant lower score in the total SNOT-22 was found amongst patients on intranasal LAS (p = 0.02). The subanalysis of SNOT-22 domains showed that patients on LAS had statistically significant lower scores in the domains "rhinologic symptoms" (p = 0.05), "function" (p = 0.02), and "emotion" (p = 0.01). No significant differences were observed when looking at sVAS. The cost of 1-year treatment of LAS per person was ≈GBP 180.7 with a daily cost of ≈GBP 0.50. Conclusions: This study supports the efficacy of nasal ATAD in the management of N-ERD and suggests that long-term use can lead to QoL improvement with cost benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nasal obstruction is a frequent problem amongst patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Radiofrequency of the inferior turbinates (RFIT) is commonly utilized for inferior turbinate (IT) reduction but its effectiveness in SDB patients remains unproven. We aim to evaluate long-term objective and subjective nasal, olfactory and sleep outcomes following RFIT in SDB patients. Methods: Patients were assessed at baseline (T0) and at 3 months (T1), 6 months (T2) and 12 months (T3) following RFIT. At T0, T1, T2 and T3, the patients underwent objective assessments of their nasal airways and smell function and an evaluation of their quality-of-life, sinonasal, olfactory and sleep symptoms. Sleep studies were carried out at T0 and T2. Results: Seventeen patients (with a median age of 42 years) underwent RFIT. A statistically significant objective and subjective improvement of the patients’ nasal airways was demonstrated at T1. No other statistically significant changes were observed in the patients’ nasal airways, smell, sleep study parameters or patient-reported outcomes at the other follow-ups. A multivariate analysis confirmed a statistically significant influence of age (older), sex (male), a higher BMI, the presence of septal deviation and the presence of allergic rhinitis in some of the studies’ parameters. A statistically significant objective and subjective improvement of the patients’ nasal airways was confirmed in the fitted model when considering the influence of the available variables. Conclusions: Our study confirms that the benefits of RFIT alone in SDB patients are limited and possibly only in the short-term period. Patient-related variables can potentially influence the final outcomes.

Nasal irrigation is crucial following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), especially for managing chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). This study assessed the effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) irrigation during the post-ESS period of patients with CRS without nasal polyposis. In this prospective, single-blind randomized controlled trial, 49 patients (NAC, n = 24; saline, n = 25) undergoing ESS were assigned to receive either NAC or saline irrigations twice daily for a month. The preoperative and postoperative assessments conducted included Lund–Macka (LM) and Lund–Kennedy (LK) endoscopic scores, the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, and the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-20 (SNOT-20). At 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after the operation, endoscopic findings and symptoms were evaluated. Both groups showed no differences in age, sex, LM and LK scores, NOSE scale, and SNOT-20 preoperatively. In terms of the endoscopic findings regarding the sinonasal mucosa after ESS, the NAC group had slightly lower scores 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after the operation, but this difference was not statistically significant. The NAC group showed significant improvement in VAS scores, namely, postnasal drip (1.0, p = 0.041), smell dysfunction (0.8, p = 0.003), and crust (1.5, p = 0.034), compared to the control group’s scores of 2.6, 4.7, and 3.6, respectively, 2 weeks after the operation, although no significant differences were observed in VAS scores for any symptoms 1 and 3 months after the operation. NAC was well tolerated, and no adverse events were reported. NAC irrigation showed benefits over saline irrigation in terms of improving postnasal drip, smell dysfunction, and crust after ESS for CRS without nasal polyposis in the immediate postoperative period.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the construct validity of the sino-nasal outcome test-22 in the setting of patients with nasal septal deviation undergoing septoplasty. Methods: Retrospective case note audit recording preoperative sino-nasal outcome test-22 scores in consecutive patients undergoing septoplasty. Statistical analysis considered 4 existing factor structures for the sino-nasal outcome test-22 survey, all of which emerged from its use in the context of chronic rhinosinusitis. Structural equation modeling and factor analysis were used to compare these existing models to data from this different context of septal deviation. Results: Between January 2017 and January 2021, 115 patients completed sino-nasal outcome test-22 scores prior to undergoing septoplasty. Using confirmatory factor analysis, none of the existing conceptual frameworks could be shown to fit data from patients with septal deviation. Subsequent exploratory factor analysis showed that multiple items failed to significantly load within a 5-factor model: Nasal obstruction, Dizziness, and Frust rated/rest less/irrit able. Conclusion: Results suggest that sino-nasal outcome test-22 does not demonstrate internal validity when considering symptom burden in patients undergoing septoplasty and suggest caution should be exercised when considering such results as either an indication for surgery or a method of reporting postoperative outcomes. We believe that the utility of sino-nasal outcome test-22, in the setting of nasal septal deviation, would be significantly enhanced with modifications made specific to this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intranasal administration of lysine aspirin (LAS) is a safe and effective method for aspirin treatment after desensitisation (ATAD). Changes in quality of life (QoL) in patients on intranasal LAS have not been documented and we aimed to investigate QoL in N-ERD patients on or off nasal ATAD. Moreover, an estimate of the cost burden of intranasal LAS is given. Methods: A cross-sectional review was conducted for all challenge-confirmed N-ERD patients who were in follow-up in our rhinology clinic. They were asked to complete a SNOT-22 questionnaire, a visual analogue scale for sense of smell (sVAS). Information on prices of LAS and other consumables used for intranasal ATAD was obtained from our hospital pharmacy to obtain an estimate of the cost burden. Results: Thirty-four patients replied to the email (79.1% response rate). Of these, 21 (61.8%) were on intranasal LAS. A statistically significant lower score in the total SNOT-22 was found amongst patients on intranasal LAS (p = 0.02). The subanalysis of SNOT-22 domains showed that patients on LAS had statistically significant lower scores in the domains “rhinologic symptoms” (p = 0.05), “function” (p = 0.02), and “emotion” (p = 0.01). No significant differences were observed when looking at sVAS. The cost of 1-year treatment of LAS per person was ≈GBP 180.7 with a daily cost of ≈GBP 0.50. Conclusions: This study supports the efficacy of nasal ATAD in the management of N-ERD and suggests that long-term use can lead to QoL improvement with cost benefits.

Background: Face mask is the first line to protect the respiratory mucosa from the coronavirus particles in aerocells and droplets and without this, the exposure of the mucosa to the virus and allergens trigger the immune and inflammatory system. These lead to Allergic Rhinitis (AR) symptoms or virus infection. Aim: This study discusses about the effects of face mask on the severity of AR symptoms using the Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) in AR cases during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Method: In this cross‐sectional study, 54 cases previously diagnosed as moderate and severe AR based on Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma and Visual Analog Scale score referred to the tertiary allergy clinic were involved, while 5 of them were excluded. AR symptoms before and during the pandemic were compared based on the SNOT‐22 questionnaire. Demographics, AR severity, and comorbidities were registered. Results: The mean age was 31.4 ± 13.5 years with the male−female ratio of 1.4. The mean SNOT‐22 score was 36.1 ± 20.3 before and 29.5 ± 16.8 during the pandemic. Although 36.7% (n: 18) of all participants had severe symptoms before the pandemic, 10.2% (n: 5) had severe AR symptoms during the pandemic. 53.0% (n: 26) of patients had moderate AR symptoms, and 36.7% (n: 18) had mild AR symptoms in the pandemic. There was no significant difference between each paired subgroup in AR symptom changes but the symptom improvement was significant in most of the subgroups when compared to the pre‐pandemic period. Smoking had an adverse effect on AR symptoms (p: 0.034). Conclusion: Face mask affects the quality of life in AR patients and improves the severity of AR symptoms during COVID‐19 pandemic. Smoking worsens this severity. Age, gender, pet ownership, underlying conditions, and previous COVID‐19 infection were not associated with AR symptoms severity and alteration in the AR individuals' quality of life during the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Septoturbinoplasty is frequently performed to correct nasal obstruction; however, there is still a lack of research on changes in nasal and nose-related symptoms early after septoturbinoplasty. Therefore, we aimed to investigate changes in subjective outcomes within 6 months after septoturbinoplasty. Materials and Methods: The medical records of patients who underwent septoturbinoplasty at Gangnam Severance Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Symptom scores were evaluated using the Sino-nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and obstruction scores. The SNOT-22 and obstruction scores were investigated before surgery and at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Results: We noted significant decreases in both SNOT-22 and obstruction scores at 1 month after surgery, compared to those before surgery (p<0.001). However, there were no significant changes at 3 and 6 months after surgery, compared to scores at 1 month after surgery. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, a larger difference between SNOT-22 scores preoperatively and 1 month after surgery was significantly associated with a significant improvement in symptoms at 3 or 6 months after septoturbinoplasty (p=0.029). Conclusion: These results imply that subjective outcomes and degree of improvement in the first month after septoturbinoplasty can be used as a predictor of the results thereof and for counseling patients about its progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Face mask is the first line to protect the respiratory mucosa from the coronavirus particles in aerocells and droplets and without this, the exposure of the mucosa to the virus and allergens trigger the immune and inflammatory system. These lead to Allergic Rhinitis (AR) symptoms or virus infection. Aim This study discusses about the effects of face mask on the severity of AR symptoms using the Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) in AR cases during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Method In this cross‐sectional study, 54 cases previously diagnosed as moderate and severe AR based on Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma and Visual Analog Scale score referred to the tertiary allergy clinic were involved, while 5 of them were excluded. AR symptoms before and during the pandemic were compared based on the SNOT‐22 questionnaire. Demographics, AR severity, and comorbidities were registered. Results The mean age was 31.4 ± 13.5 years with the male−female ratio of 1.4. The mean SNOT‐22 score was 36.1 ± 20.3 before and 29.5 ± 16.8 during the pandemic. Although 36.7% (n: 18) of all participants had severe symptoms before the pandemic, 10.2% (n: 5) had severe AR symptoms during the pandemic. 53.0% (n: 26) of patients had moderate AR symptoms, and 36.7% (n: 18) had mild AR symptoms in the pandemic. There was no significant difference between each paired subgroup in AR symptom changes but the symptom improvement was significant in most of the subgroups when compared to the pre‐pandemic period. Smoking had an adverse effect on AR symptoms (p: 0.034). Conclusion Face mask affects the quality of life in AR patients and improves the severity of AR symptoms during COVID‐19 pandemic. Smoking worsens this severity. Age, gender, pet ownership, underlying conditions, and previous COVID‐19 infection were not associated with AR symptoms severity and alteration in the AR individuals' quality of life during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Background: Rapid Rhino® nasal pack was used to minimize bleeding and to relieve postoperative pain after endoscopic sinus procedures (ESS), while different nasal packs have been employed in various sinonasal surgeries throughout the last decades. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of Rapid Rhino® Pack and Gloved Nasal Pack as Middle Meatal Spacers after ESS for reducing postoperative adhesion in-patient undergoing ESS and reducing the pain during pack removal. Patients and Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial, at ENT Department, Faculty of Medicine, at Zagazig University Hospitals on 44 cases. Patients were randomized to receive Rapid Rhino® pack the in one middle meatus (right or left), and the Gloved Nasal pack in the contra-lateral middle meatus intra-operatively. Results: Sino-nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) chart significantly decreased from a pre-operative mean of 52.59 (SD13.17) to 34.18 (SD 8.79) at 3 months post-operatively. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain significantly decreased in the Rapid Rhino pack groups compared with gloved nasal pack. Bleeding was more in gloved nasal pack side with statistically significant difference among both groups (p=0.007). Endoscopic evaluation of our cases revealed no significant difference between both groups regarding edema, discharge and both groups were significantly improved while significant differences were found regarding while scarring and crusting. Conclusion: We concluded that whether packs are always necessary following endoscopic sinus surgery. Rapid Rhino® Pack fulfils their primary purpose of hemostasis and is well tolerated. It has also been shown to cause little pain on removal and may prevent adhesion formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: EuroQol-5-dimensions-5-levels (EQ-5D-5L), visual analog scale (VAS), time trade-off (TTO), and standard gamble (SG) are used for the assessment of Health Utility Scores (HUS) of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). This study aimed to determine the overall HUS of CRS, the factors which influence the HUS, and the preferable method., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Patients with primary CRS were recruited. Clinical and socioeconomic data together with HUS were assessed. Four HUS scores determined from the four different methods were compared., Results: A total of 335 patients were enrolled. The overall HUS, as measured by EQ-5D-5L, VAS, TTO, and SG, was 0.88 ± 0.14, 0.79 ± 0.17, 0.89 ± 0.15, and 0.86 ± 0.16, respectively. The multivariable linear regression revealed that each increasing 22-item sinonasal outcome test (SNOT-22) score predicted a reduction of 0.002 to 0.003 in HUS (all methods, p < 0.01). Patients who scheduled for endoscopic sinus surgery had 0.06 to 0.11 HUS lower than other groups in EQ-5D-5L and VAS (all p < 0.05). Higher endoscopy score, age, presence of comorbid airway diseases, and lower education correlated with lower HUS (p < 0.05). Given the HUS results and regression models, the EQ-5D-5L is likely the preferable choice., Conclusion: The overall HUS of CRS was approximately 0.79-0.89. High SNOT-22 score and those who failed medications, presence of comorbid AR/asthma, increased age, high endoscopy score, and low education negatively impacted HUS. Our data suggest that EQ-5D-5L is a preferable method for measuring HUS in patients with CRS., (© 2024 ARS‐AAOA, LLC.)

Background: Dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting IL-4 and IL-13, has demonstrated its efficacy in several clinical trials. However, to date, real-life data remains limited., Objective: The aim of our study was to assess the real-life impact of dupilumab on patients with severe and uncontrolled chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) quality of life., Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, monocentric, observational, real-life study, conducted in accordance with the STROBE guidelines. The following parameters were collected before treatment and at 1, 4, and 12 months: Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22), nasal polyp score (NPS), Sniffin' Sticks-16 (SST-16), visual analog scale (VAS) for loss of smell, nasal congestion score (NCS), gustatory VAS, asthma control, oral corticosteroid usage, surgery rates, and occurrence of side effects., Results: The study included 47 patients. SNOT-22 scores decreased from 52.4 ± 24.3 to 12.7 ± 10.5 at 12 months (p < 0.001). NPS decreased from 6.15 ± 1.71 to 1.57 ± 1.40 at 12 months (p < 0.001). SST-16 scores increased from 1.6 ± 2.83 to 9.1 ± 5.4 at 12 months (p < 0.001). NCS decreased from 2.45 ± 0.72 to 0.38 ± 0.63 at 12 months (p < 0.001). Prior to treatment, 72.3% were using oral corticosteroids, compared to 17.0% at 12 months (p < 0.01). Two patients required additional surgery, and 17% reported completely uncontrolled asthma, compared to 0% at 12 months (p < 0.01)., Conclusion: Our real-life results confirm the efficacy of Dupilumab in the treatment of severe and uncontrolled CRSwNP., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To identify predictors of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in patients presenting with the chief complaint of nasal allergies., Study Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: Tertiary care, academic center., Methods: Clinical and demographic characteristics were collected from participants who were patients presenting with the chief complaint of nasal allergies. From all participants, a 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) was collected, and a modified Lund-Kennedy endoscopy score was calculated from nasal endoscopy. Association was sought between having CRS and variables of clinical and demographic characteristics, SNOT-22, and endoscopy score., Results: A total of 219 patients were recruited and 91.3% were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis; 45.2% were also diagnosed with CRS. Approximately half of the patients with CRS reported no intranasal corticosteroid usage. Having CRS was associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 2.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30-4.04, P = .004), endoscopy score (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.59-2.42, P < .001), and the SNOT-22 nasal subdomain score (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03-1.11, P = .001) related to SNOT-22 items: "need to blow nose," "thick nasal discharge," "sense of taste/smell," and "blockage/congestion of nose." At least moderate (item score ≥3) "blockage/congestion of nose" or "thick nasal discharge," mild "need to blow nose" (item score ≥2) or very mild decreased "sense of taste/smell" (item score ≥1), and any nasal endoscopy findings (endoscopy score ≥1) were statistically significant predictors of CRS., Conclusion: Moderate or more severe nasal obstruction or discharge symptoms, any decreased sense of smell/taste, or positive nasal endoscopy findings in patients believing they have allergic rhinitis should prompt further evaluation of CRS to avoid delays in treatment., (© 2024 The Authors. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Objectives: The 22-question SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) assesses chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) severity. We aimed to identify predictors of SNOT-22 score improvement following highly effective modulator therapy (HEMT) initiation and to corroborate the SNOT-22 minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF)., Methods: Prospective observational data was pooled from four studies across 10 US centers investigating people with CF (PwCF) and CRS. Three studies evaluated HEMT's impact on CRS. For participants enrolled prior to HEMT initiation, SNOT-22 scores were obtained at baseline and after 3-6 months of HEMT. Multivariate regression identified predictors of improvement. Cronbach's alpha and four distribution-based methods were used to assess internal consistency and calculate the MCID of the SNOT-22., Results: A total of 184 PwCF participated with mean baseline SNOT-22 scores ranging from 18.1 to 56.7. Cronbach's alpha was ≥0.90 across sites. Participants at sites with pre- and post-HEMT data reported improvement in SNOT-22 scores after initiating HEMT (all p < 0.05). Worse baseline SNOT-22 score (odds ratio (OR): 1.05, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 1.02-1.08), F508del homozygosity (OR: 4.30, p = 0.040, 95% CI: 1.14-18.99), and absence of prior modulator therapy (OR: 4.99, p = 0.017, 95% CI: 1.39-20.11) were associated with greater SNOT-22 improvement. The mean MCID calculated via distribution-based methods was 8.5., Conclusion: Worse baseline sinonasal symptoms, F508del homozygosity, and absence of prior modulator therapy predicted greater improvement after HEMT initiation. The mean MCID for SNOT-22 in PwCF is 8.5 points, similar to non-CF individuals with CRS, and provides a threshold specifically for PwCF. The SNOT-22 has strong internal consistency in PwCF., Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:3965-3973, 2024., (© 2024 The Authors. The Laryngoscope published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) endotypes have demonstrated clinical value in guiding treatment decisions. Bacterial lysates are immunomodulators that have shown beneficial effects in various respiratory inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of postoperative bacterial lysate therapy on different CRS endotypes., Methods: Patients diagnosed with CRS who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery were recruited. Bacterial lysates were administered postoperatively for 10 days per month for 3 months to the experimental group comprising patients with a history of frequent upper respiratory infections without adverse reactions. The remaining participants were allocated to the control group. The results of the postoperative 3-, 6-, and 12-month assessments, including the modified Lund-Kennedy (mLK) endoscopic and Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT) 22 scores, for the groups were compared. The tissue samples obtained from the participants were evaluated to detect the presence of relevant inflammatory mediators., Results: Among the 92 participants, 47 started bacterial lysate therapy 2 weeks after the surgery. The tissue cytokine profiles and clinical parameters, such as the disease severity and blood eosinophil percentage, of the bacterial lysate and control groups were comparable before treatment. The mLK endoscopic and SNOT-22 scores did not differ after 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up. The subgroup analysis revealed that the bacterial lysate group had significantly lower mLK endoscopic scores than the control group for CRS without nasal polyps, while there was a tendency toward significance for the interleukin (IL)-5 negative group after 6 months., Conclusion: Postoperative bacterial lysate therapy has some beneficial effects on the endoscopic findings of patients with CRS without nasal polyps or those who are negative for IL-5., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: Patient-reported outcome measures, while valuable, may not correlate with diagnostic test results. To better understand this potential discrepancy, our objective was to determine whether psychological health is an effect modifier of the association between patient-reported allergy outcome scores and allergy test results., Study Design: Prospective outcomes study., Setting: Tertiary care hospital and community-based clinic., Methods: This study included 600 patients at least 18 years of age who presented for symptoms related to allergic rhinitis and completed the related sinonasal outcome test (SNOT), which includes validated nasal, allergy, and psychological domains. Stratified analyses of odds ratios and Spearman correlation coefficients were utilized to assess for effect modification by psychological status., Results: Worse patient-reported allergic rhinitis symptoms were significantly associated with positive allergy test results (odds ratio [OR] 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22-2.34, P = .002) in patients with better psychological health. In contrast, there was no association in patients with worse psychological health (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.36-3.10, P = .92). These findings were corroborated by assessments of correlation: allergy domain scores were positively correlated with allergy testing scores (Spearman rho 0.18, 95% CI 0.10-0.25, P < .001) in patients with better psychological health, while there was no correlation in patients with worse psychological health (-0.02, 95% CI -0.16-0.12, P = .77)., Conclusions: Psychological status was an effect modifier of the association between allergy domain and allergy testing data. When assessing the relationship between subjective measures, such as sinonasal validated instruments, and objective measures, such as allergy test results, accounting for effect modifiers such as psychological state can provide clinical and research-related insights., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Key Points: Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) had worse olfactory quality of life (QoL) and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 scores compared to a normal cohort. A worse olfactory QoL correlated with concussion symptom burden. Olfactory dysfunction among TBI patients should be addressed to improve overall outcomes., (© 2024 ARS‐AAOA, LLC.)

Objective: Identifying the biomarkers for uncontrolled chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is important for directing treatment decisions. Eosinophilia has been reported to be involved in the poor disease control of CRS and mucus eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) is potentially a biomarker of intense eosinophil activation. This study aimed to assess the relationship between mucus EDN levels, disease severity, and degree of CRS control., Methods: A total of 150 adult patients with CRS and 25 healthy controls were prospectively enrolled. The nasal mucus and tissue specimens were collected to analyze EDN levels. Disease severity was assessed by Lund-Mackay score and 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score. Five CRS symptom severities during the prior month (nasal blockage, rhinorrhoea/postnasal drip, facial pain/pressure, smell, sleep disturbance or fatigue), use of rescue medications in the last six months, and the presence of diseased mucosa on nasal endoscopy were obtained. Consistent with the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020 CRS control criteria, uncontrolled CRS was defined as meeting at least three items., Results: 40% of patients with CRS presented with uncontrolled status. Patients with uncontrolled CRS had significantly higher nasal mucus EDN levels (P = 0.010), percentage of blood eosinophil (P = 0.015), SNOT-22 score (P < 0.001), Lund-Mackay score (P = 0.008), and a more eosinophilic dominant phenotype of CRS (P < 0.001) than patients with controlled CRS. Furthermore, mucus EDN levels were positively correlated with blood eosinophils (r = 0.541, P = 0.005), SNOT-22 score (r = 0.460, P = 0.021), and Lund-Mackay score (r = 0.387, P = 0.039). Mucus EDN levels were the significant parameter related to uncontrolled CRS in multivariable analysis after adjusting for patient demographics and comorbidities (odds ratio = 1.323; P = 0.004)., Conclusions: Mucus EDN levels may be a potential biomarker for identifying the CRS control status., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is common in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). Rhinologic symptom prioritization and areas that influence CRS treatment choices, including pursuing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), remain understudied., Methods: Adult PwCF + CRS were enrolled at eight centers into a prospective, observational study (2019-2023). Participants were administered the 22-SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) survey and a modified SNOT-22 instrument examining symptom importance. We determined importance rankings for individual symptoms and SNOT-22 symptom importance subdomains in two sets of subgroups-those pursuing ESS versus continuing medical management (CMT), and those on elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) versus not on ETI., Results: Among 69 participants, the highest priorities were nasal congestion (n = 48, 69.6% important), post-nasal discharge (32, 46.4%), facial pain (29, 43.3%), waking up tired (27, 39.1%), and fatigue (26, 37.7%). Those electing surgery (n = 23) prioritized sleep and psychological dysfunction symptoms compared to those pursuing CMT (n = 49) (sleep median score = 19.0 [interquartile range: 12.0, 25.0] vs. 4.5 [0.0, 12.8]; p < 0.0001; psychological = 17.0 [7.0, 26.0] vs. 7.0 [0.0, 15.8]; p = 0.002). ETI users had comparable SNOT-22 total symptom importance scores to non-ETI users (p = 0.14). Non-ETI users (n = 34) showed a trend toward prioritizing sleep symptoms compared to ETI users (n = 35) (13.0 [2.8, 22.3] vs. 6.0 [2.0, 17.0]; p = 0.055)., Conclusions: Nasal congestion and post-nasal discharge were top priorities reported by PwCF + CRS. Those electing surgery prioritized sleep and psychological symptoms, highlighting their importance in pre-operative discussions. Non-ETI users' prioritization of sleep improvement may highlight their unique disease impact and therapeutic needs; however, additional investigation is required., (© 2024 The Authors. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy and American Rhinologic Society.)

Objective: Socioeconomic status (SES) is linked to health outcomes but has not been well studied in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The area deprivation index (ADI) is a comprehensive measure of geographic SES that ranks neighborhood disadvantage. This investigation used ADI to understand the impact of neighborhood disadvantage on CRS treatment outcomes., Methods: A total of 642 study participants with CRS were prospectively enrolled and self-selected endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) or continued appropriate medical therapy as treatment. The 22-item SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short-Form 6-D (SF-6D) health utility value scores were recorded pre- and post-treatment. Using residence zip codes, national ADI scores were retrospectively assigned to patients. Spearman's correlation coefficients (Rs) and Cramer's V effect size (φ c ) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated., Results: A history of ESS was associated with significantly worse ADI scores compared to no history of ESS (φ c  = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.25; p < 0.001). Baseline total SNOT-22 (Rs = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.22; p < 0.001) and SF-6D values (Rs = -0.20; 95% CI: -0.27, -0.12; p < 0.001) were significantly negatively correlated with national ADI rank. No significant correlations between ADI and within-subject improvement, or achievement of >1 minimal clinically important difference, in SNOT-22 or SF-6D scores after treatment were found., Conclusions: Geographic socioeconomic deprivation was associated with worse baseline disease severity and history of prior surgical intervention. However, ADI did not correlate with improvement in disease-specific outcomes. The impact of socioeconomic deprivation on outcomes in CRS requires further investigation., (© 2024 The Authors. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy and American Rhinologic Society.)

Objectives: Patients with empty nose syndrome typically experience paradoxical nasal congestion, nasal dryness, epistaxis, and suffocation. Conservative management is generally preferred for empty nose syndrome. However, some patients continue to experience persistent symptoms. When symptoms do not resolve, surgical options are considered. Therefore, we reviewed the surgical and regenerative treatment options for empty nose syndrome., Methods: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar were searched from the earliest date provided in the database until December 2022. This review included studies that assessed treatment outcomes using patient symptom scores, including the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-20, -22, and -25) and the Empty Nose Syndrome 6-Item Questionnaire, supplemented by various clinical examinations., Results: Twenty-eight studies were analyzed. Various materials were utilized, including submucosal injectable materials, allografts/xenografts/cadaveric implants, autologous implants, and synthetic implants. The polyethylene implant was the most commonly used (23.3%), followed by autologous, homologous, or cadaveric costal cartilage (20%). The anterior-inferior lateral nasal wall was the most frequent site of administration. Most studies indicated that surgical intervention led to significant improvements in clinical outcomes, as evidenced by endoscopic exams, acoustic rhinometry, and computed tomography scans, along with patient-reported enhancements in nasal symptoms, psychological well-being, and overall health-related quality of life. However, several studies found no improvement in certain psychological-related questionnaires or saccharin transit times. The average follow-up duration was 12.0 months (range, 2.0-27.6 months). Only two studies reported postoperative adverse effects., Conclusion: Several surgical options and recent tissue regeneration techniques have demonstrated efficacy in treating empty nose syndrome. However, more detailed investigations involving a larger number of participants and a randomized control study are necessary to establish a standardized treatment protocol for patients with empty nose syndrome.

Objective: Relapses are frequent and difficult to predict in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), resulting in long-term use of immunosuppression. Although sinonasal disease is associated with relapse of AAV, detailed characterization of sinonasal symptoms is lacking. Using a patient-reported outcome, the 22-item SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), we investigated the relationship between sinonasal symptoms and disease activity in AAV., Methods: This was a prospective, longitudinal study of individual with AAV and healthy individuals. Relapse was defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegner's Granulomatosis score >0. Higher SNOT-22 scores indicate worse symptoms. Generalized estimating equation and Cox proportional hazard models evaluated the association between SNOT-22 and relapse., Results: There were 773 visits (106 active disease visits) from 168 patients with AAV and 51 controls. Median SNOT-22 at remission was higher in AAV versus controls (20 vs 5; P < 0.001) and higher during active disease versus remission (P < 0.001). In all AAV, and particularly within granulomatosis with polyangiitis, higher SNOT-22 scores were observed months to years before relapse and were associated with increased risk of relapse (hazard ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval 1.2-6.2; P = 0.02). Similar findings were seen when examining patients with versus without sinonasal disease and after removing relapses limited to the ear, nose, and throat., Conclusion: A patient-reported outcome measure of sinonasal disease, the SNOT-22, not only changes with disease activity in AAV, but also is associated with a higher risk of relapse within two years. These findings support the possibility that the SNOT-22 score may enhance prediction of relapse and that persistent sinonasal disease may be important in the pathophysiology of relapse., (© 2024 The Authors. Arthritis Care & Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Rheumatology.)

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) frequently leads to olfactory dysfunction. This study aimed to assess the impact of dupilumab on CRSwNP patients, focusing on olfactory outcomes and potential correlations with other clinical factors., Methods: CRSwNP patients eligible for dupilumab therapy received subcutaneous Dupixent® injections every two weeks (300mg/2ml dupilumab). The 12-item Sniffin' Sticks Test (SST-12), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and Nasal Polyp Score (NPS) were assessed at baseline and after one, three, and six months. Patients also completed the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) weekly., Results: 26 CRSwNP patients were included. After one month, dupilumab led to substantial reductions in FeNO, SNOT scores, andNPS, whereas SST-12 scores improved significantly only after three months. A shift toward normosmia occurred, with 81% achieving normosmia after six months, and a drop in anosmia prevalence to 9.5%. Significant negative correlations between olfaction (SST-12) and polyp severity (NPS) at baseline and after six months were found, while no significant correlations were observed between SST-12 and FeNO or SNOT scores. Age did not correlate with olfaction., Conclusions: Dupilumab demonstrated efficacy in restoring olfaction in CRSwNP patients. Reaching normosmia in over 80% ofpatients after six months of treatment underscores the drug's effectiveness in managing this challenging symptom.

Background: Patients with sinonasal malignancy (SNM) present with significant sinonasal quality of life (QOL) impairment. Global sinonasal QOL as measured by the 22-item Sinonasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-22) has been shown to improve with treatment. This study aims to characterize SNOT-22 subdomain outcomes in SNM., Methods: Patients diagnosed with SNM were prospectively enrolled in a multi-center patient registry. SNOT-22 scores were collected at the time of diagnosis and through the post-treatment period for up to 5 years. Multivariable regression analysis was used to identify drivers of variation in SNOT-22 subdomains., Results: Note that 234 patients were reviewed, with a mean follow-up of 22 months (3 months-64 months). Rhinologic, psychological, and sleep subdomains significantly improved versus baseline (all p < 0.05). Subanalysis of 40 patients with follow-up at all timepoints showed statistically significant improvement in rhinologic, extra-nasal, psychological, and sleep subdomains, with minimal clinically important difference met between 2 and 5 years in sleep and psychological subdomains. Adjuvant chemoradiation was associated with worse outcomes in rhinologic (adjusted odds ratio (5.22 [1.69-8.66])), extra-nasal (2.21 [0.22-4.17]) and ear/facial (5.53 [2.10-8.91]) subdomains. Pterygopalatine fossa involvement was associated with worse outcomes in rhinologic (3.22 [0.54-5.93]) and ear/facial (2.97 [0.32-5.65]) subdomains. Positive margins (5.74 [2.17-9.29]) and surgical approach-combined versus endoscopic (3.41 [0.78-6.05])-were associated with worse psychological outcomes. Adjuvant radiation (2.28 [0.18-4.40]) was associated with worse sleep outcomes., Conclusions: Sinonasal QOL improvements associated with treatment of SNM are driven by rhinologic, extra-nasal, psychological, and sleep subdomains., (© 2024 ARS‐AAOA, LLC.)

Objective: To compare subdorsal strip excisions in patients undergoing dorsal preservation (DP) rhinoplasty using patient-related outcome measures (PROMS). Methods: Patients were treated from 2020 to 2022 using the modified subdorsal strip method (MSSM) or Z flap approach. A two-sample t -test determined whether there was a difference in functional and aesthetic scores using the NOSE, Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), SCHNOS, and ESS scales. Results: Seventy-one primary rhinoplasty patients met inclusion criteria at 12 months with an average age of 23 years (62 female, 9 male), with 35 (49%) undergoing the MSSM technique, while 36 (51%) receiving the Z flap. PROMS at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively were compared. The average preoperative and postoperative NOSE score was 9.36 and -4.4 (standard deviation [SD] 3.1, p  < 0.001). The average preoperative SNOT-22 score was 23.9 and -16.4 (SD 10.2, p  < 0.001). ESS scores was average was 6.2 and -1.6 (SD 3.2, p  = 0.01). The average SCHNOS total, functional, and cosmetic scores were 27.6 (6-47), 8.2 (0-20) and 18.7 (0-37), respectively, and -5.7 (SD 8.2, p  < 0.001), -5.73 (SD 6.24, p  < 0.001), -18.1 (SD 9.7, p  < 0.001). No significant complications were found and no difference in PROMs among groups. Conclusion: There was no difference in septal strip techniques as evaluated by PROMS.

Background: Biologic agents are considered a new revolutionized therapy for severe and recurrent forms of CRSwNP which disease burden is not sufficiently controlled by conservative and/or surgical treatments. Recent Research has focused on evaluating their real-life efficacy in CRSwNP, as only limited reports on real-life data are available. However, in most studies, the response to treatment is evaluated in terms of improvement in Nasal Polyp Score (NPS) or in Sino-Nasal Outcome test (SNOT-22) scores. However, both criteria do not consider nasal immunophlogosis, which can be easily assessed by nasal cytology. The aim of our study was to evaluate changings in the nasal inflammatory infiltrate of CRSwNP patients treated with Dupilumab for 12 months., Methods: 27 patients suffering from severe CRSwNP treated with Dupilumab were recruited. Nasal cytology findings, NPS, SNOT-22, ACT scores and blood eosinophil count at T0 (before treatment) and at T1 (after 1 year of treatment) were compared., Results: After 1 year of biological therapy with Dupilumab, NPS, SNOT-22 and, among the 17 asthmatic patients, ACT scores improved significantly. At T1, a statistically significant percentage of patients showed negative citology. Moreover, a significant reduction in the mast cell-eosinophilic pattern and an increase of neutrophils and bacteria was reported., Conclusions: The response to treatment can be considered both in the case of negative nasal cytology and in the case of the appearance of neutrophils and bacteria. In this context, eosinophils, the specific target of biological therapies, play a crucial role in regulating tissue homeostasis and, consequently, the nasal immunophlogosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: A retrospective analysis was performed to explore the clinical effect of the Posterior Nasal Nerve (PNN) resection combined with hormone transnasal nebulization on Difficult-to-Treat Rhinosinusitis (DTRS)., Methods: A total of 120 DTRS patients were selected and divided into a control group (n = 60) and a study group (n = 60) according to different treatments. The control group patients were treated via PNN resection, followed by normal saline transnasal nebulization; the study group patients were given PNN resection and then treated with budesonide suspension transnasal nebulization. Subsequently, the comparison was performed between the two groups in terms of (1) Clinical baseline characteristics; (2) Sino-nasal Outcome Test (SNOT)-22 scores before treatment and after 3-months, 6-months and 12-months of treatment; (3) Lund-MacKay scores before treatment and after 10, 30, 90, and 180 days of treatment; (4) Incidence of adverse reactions during treatment., Results: There was no significant difference in SNOT-22 or Lund-Kennedy scores between the two groups before treatment (p > 0.05). After treatment, the SNOT-22 and Lund-Kennedy scores of the control and the study groups were decreased, and compared with the control group, the SNOT-22 and Lund-Kennedy scores in the study group improved more significantly (p < 0.05). In addition, the study group and the control group presented with 1 and 4 cases of nasal adhesion, 2 and 3 cases of epistaxis, 1 and 4 cases of sinus orifice obstruction, 1 and 3 cases of lacrimal duct injuries, respectively. The incidence of adverse reactions in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group (8.3% vs. 23.3%) (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: PNN resection combined with hormone transnasal nebulization treatment can improve the symptoms and quality of life of DTRS patients, with good clinical efficacy but few adverse reactions. Therefore, such combination treatment deserves a promotion and application clinically., Level of Evidence: Level 3., (Copyright © 2024 Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Published by Elsevier España S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objectives: Empty nose syndrome (ENS) is an underdiagnosed but burdensome clinical condition. Studies that have addressed the impact of remnant inferior turbinate volume (ITV) on ENS are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the impact of ITV and phenotyping on the severity and presentation of ENS., Methods: All the enrolled patients underwent the following subjective assessments: the ENS 6-Item Questionnaire (ENS6Q), Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-25 (SNOT-25), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The ITV was obtained from finely cut (1-mm-thick slices) sino-nasal computed tomography scan images and analyzed using ImageJ. The correlation between ITV, subjective measurements, and morphology of inferior turbinates was evaluated. ENS was categorized as torpedo type (balanced tissue volume) or pistol type (posterior dominance) based on the morphology., Results: Overall, 54 patients met the inclusion criteria. The ITV was positively correlated with the ENS6Q score and domain of ENS symptoms in SNOT-25. Neither BDI-II nor BAI scores had a significant correlation with ITV. Based on their morphological classification, the torpedo type exhibited diverse manifestations in the SNOT-25 analysis in response to changes in ITV, while the pistol type demonstrated an elevated rhinologic symptom burden and ENS-specific symptoms as their ITV increased. Nasal resistance did not correlate with the ITV in either type of ENS., Conclusions: Symptoms were paradoxically worse in ENS patients with greater remnant ITV, and distinct morphological phenotypes in the nasal cavities may result in different presentations. Further investigation into the correlation between remnant inferior turbinates and nerve function is warranted., Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:3060-3066, 2024., (© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: Postnasal drip (PND) syndrome is a prevalent complaint encountered in otolaryngology practices. PND may be refractory to medical therapy, and surgical treatments are complicated by side effects., Objective: While posterior nasal nerve (PNN) ablation has demonstrated efficacy for chronic rhinitis overall, we sought to examine the effect of PNN ablation for patients with PND as their primary complaint., Methods: This is a retrospective case series study of 40 chronic rhinitis (CR) patients with a primary complaint of PND. Included patients had to have failed medical therapy such as anti-cholinergic nasal sprays, reflux treatments, and/or nasal steroids. Primary outcome measures included 22 item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) PND component and Total Nasal Symptom Score. Secondary outcome measure was subjective improvement, defined as a  > 30% improvement in PND symptoms., Results: Median follow-up was 138 days (interquartile range: 72-193). 72.5% (29/40) of patients reported at least a 30% improvement in PND symptoms. Mean PND SNOT-22 scores were 4.2/5 (SD = 0.8) pre-procedure versus 1.9/5 (SD = 1.3) post-procedure ( P  = .001). PNN ablation response did not correlate to ipratropium bromide nasal spray response, although younger and non-smoker patients had better response rates., Conclusion: This exploratory study of PNN ablation for the primary symptom of PND demonstrates efficacy as assessed by the PND component of SNOT-22 and subjective improvement. These results can be useful in guiding physician-patient discussions in determining treatment options for medically refractory PND., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Omar G. Ahmed MD is a consultant for Aerin Medical Inc and Medtronic. Masayoshi Takashima MD is a consultant for Medtronic ENT, Neurent Medical.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is characterized by a type 2 pattern of inflammation. Mepolizumab was approved for the treatment of CRSwNP in 2021, it may be useful to evaluate its safety profile in a real-world setting., Aim: This work aimed to prospectively highlight the effectiveness and safety profile of Mepolizumab in patients with CRSwNP enrolled in the Otorhinolaryngology Unit of the University Hospital of Messina., Methods: An observational cohort study was carried out considering all patients treated with Mepolizumab. A descriptive analysis was conducted reporting all demographic characteristics, endoscopic evaluations, and symptom conditions., Results: A total of 30 patients were treated with Mepolizumab, one patient discontinued the treatment. A statistically significant reduction in the Sino-Nasal Outcome Tests-22 (SNOT-22) and nasal polyp score (NPS) was shown at the 6th and 12th months compared to baseline values (SNOT-22, -33 and - 43, p < 0.001 for both comparisons; NPS, 0 and - 1, p < 0.001 for both comparisons). The median (Q1-Q3) sniffin' sticks test score increased from 7 (6-8) at the 6th month to 11 (10-13) at the 12th month. Seven patients (24.1 %) reported pain at the injection site, accompanied by redness, warmth, and tenderness within the first 24 h post-injection with a median duration of three days from the onset., Conclusions: Given the optimal treatment response and the minimal adverse effects observed, clinicians should consider Mepolizumab a safe and effective treatment in CRSwNP patients. Further studies in real-life setting are necessary to better understand the long-term effects., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Many studied investigated the manifestations of COVID-19, yet few described the pattern and severity of otolaryngological symptoms. We aim to describe the picture of COVID-19-associated otorhinolaryngological manifestations and recovery to explore individualized treatment, onward referral, and complications prevention. Design: Prospective longitudinal questionnaire-based study. Setting: The online questionnaire was filled 3 times through a remote interview over a period of 1 month from June 2020 to July 2020. Participants: Patients with confirmed COVID-19 by RT-PCR who were clinically stable. Main Outcome Measures: Date of diagnosis, sociodemographic data, and the presence of predictive factors, such as nasal and paranasal disease, anosmia and dysgeusia. Validated tools were used, such as Sino-nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), smell test (medical academy screening tool), Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and Reflux Symptoms Index (RSI). Result: The questionnaire was sent to 363 patients and the response rate was 70.80% (n = 257). The mean age was 34.58 years (SD = 11.22) and the rate of male participants was 60.7%. The most common otorhinolaryngological symptoms at the time of enrollment was fever (48.6%), whilst the commonest severe symptom was cough (57%). After 1 month, only 11 participants had persistent severe symptoms, especially sleep and psychological symptoms (73%), and the majority were female (63.6%). All of them had at least 1 comorbidity. There was a significant difference between the mean age of participants with severe symptoms (mean = 27.45, SD = 8.39) and without severe symptoms (mean = 34.90, SD = 2.53, t (255) = 2.17, P =.031). Conclusion: COVID-19 has a wide-ranged spectrum of presentations, with otorhinolaryngological symptoms being the commonest and most serious. Studying these symptoms is vital to advance management options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of pharmacological therapy with and without direct maxillary sinus saline irrigation for the management of chronic rhinosinusitis without polyps. Methods: In this prospective randomised controlled trial, 39 non-operated patients were randomly assigned to be treated with direct maxillary sinus saline irrigation in conjunction with systemic antibiotics and topical sprays (n = 24) or with pharmacological therapy alone (n = 15). Endoscopy, Sino-Nasal Outcome Test and Lund–MacKay computed tomography scores were obtained before, six weeks after and one to two years after treatment. Results: Post-treatment Lund–Mackay computed tomography scores were significantly improved in both cohorts, with no inter-cohort difference identified. Post-treatment nasal endoscopy scores were significantly improved in the study group but were similar to those measured in the control group. The Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-20 results showed improvement in both cohorts, with no difference between treatment arms. Conclusion: Maxillary sinus puncture and irrigation with saline, combined with pharmacological treatment improves endoscopic findings in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis without polyps, but has no beneficial effect on symptoms and imaging findings over conservative treatment alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a long-standing disease and has been shown to cause significant impairment in patients' quality of life. Saline nasal irrigation is a proven adjunct in the treatment of AR. The addition of steroid to the saline solution can provide local steroid effect and increase the effectiveness of this technique. Our study aimed to determine the effectiveness of budesonide nasal irrigation as an adjunct to the treatment of AR, compared with saline nasal irrigation. Methods: This was a randomised controlled study involving 99 patients diagnosed with AR, half of whom were treated with saline nasal irrigation and the other half with budesonide nasal irrigation. Parameters measured include the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) questionnaire, endoscopic nasal examination findings and blood eosinophil count. Results: Patients treated with budesonide nasal irrigation had significant improvement in total SNOT-22 score (P < 0.001) and improvement in the endoscopic nasal examination findings, such as nasal mucosa oedema and secretions (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant improvement of blood eosinophil count in patients treated with either budesonide or saline nasal irrigation. Conclusion: Budesonide nasal irrigation is effective as an adjunct in the treatment of AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated whether inferior turbinate reduction combined with septoplasty improves patients' outcomes, as assessed by objective and subjective methods. Methods: A single-centre, parallel-group, randomised, open-label trial was conducted at a tertiary hospital ENT clinic. Patients who underwent septoplasty were divided into two groups: group A underwent septoplasty with radiofrequency ablation; group B underwent only septoplasty. All patients were assessed before and three months after surgery using acoustic rhinometry and peak nasal inspiratory flow measurements, as well as Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scale and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 scores. Results: Seventy-four patients completed the study (36 in group A and 38 in group B). The patients in both groups showed significant improvements in acoustic rhinometry and peak nasal inspiratory flow measurements and in Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scale and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 scores after the surgery (p < 0.05). However, the differences between the groups were not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Inferior turbinate ablation combined with septoplasty does not provide any more benefit to the objective and subjective outcomes of patients than septoplasty alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common types of allergy worldwide. It has significant negative impact on the quality of life (QOL). One of the available causal treatments of AR is allergen specific immunotherapy which remains effective even after the end of treatment course, unlike symptomatic drugs. AR patients aged above five years, allergic to unavoidable allergen like house dust, mite etc., and refractory to maximal pharmacotherapy were included in present study. Patients allergic to avoidable allergen, taking beta-blocker medication, having other immunological disease, and who were pregnant, breast-feeding or lost to follow up, were excluded from the study. All patients included in the study underwent sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). The impact of treatment is measured by calculating the difference between SNOT-20 score before and after treatment (which is 6 months interval). Total 30 patients were studied. Paired-t test calculated value of cumulative score and nasal symptom score are 7.853 and 6.85 respectively. Both are greater than table value of 2.46. So paired-t test shows that SLIT is very much effective in treatment of AR. The present study re-establish the fact that SLIT not only reduces AR symptoms, it also improves the QOL. It has very good patient compliance with minimal side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study different mask types' impact on a sinonasal quality of life. Methods: For this observational cross-sectional study, a web-based survey was distributed via social media forums. We used the validated Hebrew version of the Sinonasal Outcome Test–22 followed by a questionnaire developed specifically for the present study, focusing on the time of the COVID-19 pandemic (Mask Sinonasal Outcome Test), and questions regarding general health issues. The participants' mask-wearing routine was also studied. Results: Seventy percent of 351 participants had experienced a change in their breathing during the time of the pandemic. The median total Sinonasal Outcome Test–22 score was 13, and 10% of the participants reported a significantly impaired quality of life. According to multivariate analyses, the only subject-related variables significantly associated with the reduced sinonasal quality of life were female gender, younger age, a background of chronic rhinitis and sinusitis, and the mask-wearing average daily duration. The mask sinonasal outcome test convergent validity was confirmed. Conclusion: The majority of our survey's responders, predominantly female and younger participants, reported reduced sinonasal quality of life in the COVID-19 pandemic period. It can be attributed to mask-wearing, especially for a prolonged time, irrespective of the existing mask type. These findings should encourage medical companies to produce more "airway-minded" personal protection equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of nasal saline irrigation (large volume, positive pressure isotonic saline) in addition to standard treatment in patients with acute rhinosinusitis (ARS). Methods: This parallel, randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary hospital. The adult patients with ARS (age ≥18 years) were randomly assigned to two groups. The irrigation group received 0.9% saline irrigation twice daily, using a 250‐ml squeeze bottle, in addition to standard treatment. The no‐irrigation group received standard treatment only. Patients were evaluated at baseline, 1 week, and 2 weeks. The quality of life, rhinologic subscore, symptom score, endoscopy score, and cure rate were compared. Results: Sixty‐one patients (30: irrigation, 31: no‐irrigation) were enrolled. There were 17 males and 44 females. The mean age was 41.06 years. Although both groups showed improvements, the improvement of each outcome was not different between the groups. Subgroup analysis by ARS subtype showed benefits of irrigation in the common cold subgroup; the improvements that were greater than control included: rhinologic subscore, intergroup mean difference −4.15 [95% confidence interval (CI), −7.49, −0.80] at 1 week and −5.23 [95% CI, −9.69, −0.78] at 2 weeks; combined symptom score −5.35 [95% CI, −10.55, −0.14] at 1 week and −8.02 [95%CI, −14.36, −1.70] at 2 weeks. Conclusion: The add‐on isotonic nasal saline irrigation using a large volume, positive pressure device did not add benefits equally for all ARS patients. The benefits of irrigation on quality of life and nasal symptoms were only observed in the common cold patient subgroup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Loss of smell is one of the most bothersome and difficult-to-treat symptoms in patients with severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)., Methodology: SYNAPSE was a 52-week Phase III study of 4-weekly mepolizumab (100 mg subcutaneously) plus standard of care in adults with severe bilateral CRSwNP. This post hoc analysis assessed changes from baseline to study end in loss of smell visual analogue scale (VAS) symptom score, in patients stratified by several baseline clinical characteristics. SinoNasal Outcomes Test (SNOT)-22 sense of smell/taste item and University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) scores were also assessed., Results: SYNAPSE enrolled 407 patients (mepolizumab=206; placebo=201) with impaired sense of smell at baseline. Improvements from baseline to study end in loss of smell VAS score were greater with mepolizumab versus placebo (treatment difference: -0.37) and most notable in patients with fewer or more recent prior surgeries (treatment difference: 1 vs 2 vs more than 2 prior surgeries,-1.29 vs -0.23 vs -0.07; =3 years since last surgery, -.89 vs 0.22). Approximately 25% of patients had baseline UPSIT scoresavailable; among those scoring =19 by study end. The SNOT-22 sense of smell/taste item score improved with mepolizumab versus placebo., Conclusions: Mepolizumab treatment improved patients' perceived sense of smell, as measured by loss of smell VAS score and SNOT-22 sense of smell/taste item score in patients with severe refractory CRSwNP.

Postnasal drip (PND) is a common symptom encountered when evaluating subjects with sinonasal disease; it may be present without sinonasal disease or as a symptom of laryngopharyngeal reflux. It is postulated that PND stems from dysfunction of normal mucus clearance mechanisms; however, there is no definitive evidence elucidating an exact pathophysiology. Compounding the uncertainties surrounding PND is the lack of an objective assessment tool. Instead, treating physicians must rely on subjective complaints and investigators utilize validated patient-reported outcome instruments, such as the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test, to determine treatment efficacy. This review seeks to discuss the current understanding of PND and evidence regarding effective treatment strategies., (Copyright © 2024 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. All rights reserved.)

Background: Priming is a psychological phenomenon where subconscious cues in the environment impact our behavioral responses in certain situations. Well studied in the worlds of business, marketing, and even politics, it is unclear how the priming phenomenon impacts patient perception of their own disease state nor how they report that perception using tools like the Sinonasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-22), used to measure that perception in chronic rhinosinusitis., Objective: To determine the impact of positive or negative priming on self-reported patient perception of their chronic rhinosinusitis disease using the SNOT-22 disease-specific quality of life instrument., Methods: Single-blind, randomized, prospective cohort pilot study of 206 consecutive adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis presenting to a university rhinology clinic. Patients were randomized to receive "positive priming" (103) or "negative priming" (103) by reading a passage about the positive or negative aspects of chronic sinusitis and its treatment respectively. Patients were then asked to fill out the SNOT-22 and results between the two groups were compared., Results: The negative priming group had a higher median SNOT-22 score of 49 [IQR = 39] compared to the positive priming groups' score of 22 [IQR = 27], p < 0.0001), a difference of nearly three times the minimal clinical impactful difference (MCID). This effect was consistent regardless of age or sex of the patient. Subgroup analysis revealed a greater impact when priming was performed by the senior male attending regardless of patient age or sex (p < 0.001), while priming performed by the younger female research fellow had greater impact on older patients (>59 years, p = 0.001) and female patients (p = 0.003)., Conclusions: Priming impacts how patient's perceive their chronic rhinosinusitis as determined by the SNOT-22. It is imperative that the rhinologist understand this when using this instrument in research applications and in clinical decision-making for patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Purpose: The Sino-Nasal-Outcome-Test 22 (SNOT-22) questionnaire assesses treatment outcome and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, given the overlap between CRS and olfaction in terms of nasal function and the definition of CRS, a fundamental question arises: can patients with olfactory dysfunction (OD) stemming from other causes attain SNOT-22 scores similar to those seen in CRS, even in the absence of CRS? Our study aimed to explore whether OD arising from various postinfectious mechanisms challenges the disease-specificity of SNOT-22 for CRS. If so, could focus on scores within specific symptom domains of SNOT-22 prove valuable in distinguishing between different etiologies., Methods: The study adopted an observational, retrospective cohort design based on prospectively registered patients and related variables using the REDCap platform. 460 patients experiencing OD due to either (1) simple or (2) complex post-COVID-19, (3) postinfectious non-COVID-19, and (4) CRS, were included in the analysis., Results: The study revealed that the total SNOT-22 score lacks disease-specificity for CRS. This is evident, because complex postinfectious mechanisms resulting from COVID-19 can produce similar symptoms in patients. Notably, elevated total scores were primarily driven by high subdomain scores within the "sleep and cognition" domain., Conclusions: The application of SNOT-22 as a screening tool needs to be approached with caution, as the total score alone does not provide disease-specific insights. A more thorough exploration of the four symptom domains and the identification of distinctive scoring patterns within the clinical context may prove pivotal in effectively differentiating between various underlying causes., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The chronic rhinosinusitis patient-reported outcome (CRS-PRO) is a recently published disease-specific questionnaire designed for CRS patients, with fewer entries and ease of completion. This study aimed to translate the CRS-PRO questionnaire into Chinese and assess its reliability, validity, and responsiveness to provide Chinese patients with a more concise and efficient subjective assessment instrument., Methods: The Chinese version of the CRS-PRO was created through forward-backward translations and cultural adaptation. Here, 168 CRS patients (118 patients CRS with nasal polyps [CRSwNP] and 50 patients with CRS without nasal polyps [CRSsNP]) and 43 healthy individuals were enrolled. All participants completed the CRS-PRO, 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), and EuroQol five dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D) questionnaires preoperatively as well as 3 and 6 months after surgery., Results: The Chinese version of the CRS-PRO demonstrated good internal consistency, with a Cronbach's α of 0.813. It also exhibited a higher criterion validity (r = 0.65, p < 0.05) than the SNOT-22. A moderate association was found between the CRS-PRO and objective indicators such as the Lund-Mackay and endoscopic scores. Furthermore, the CRS-PRO, like the SNOT-22, could clearly distinguish CRS patients from healthy subjects (p < 0.01), as well as between the CRSwNP and CRSsNP subtypes (p < 0.01). Additionally, changes in the CRS-PRO exhibited a larger effect size compared to changes in the SNOT-22 (Cohen's d = 1.05 and 0.93 vs. 0.71 and 0.90 for 3 and 6 months, respectively, all p < 0.01)., Conclusions: The Chinese version of the CRS-PRO is a concise, reliable, and responsive instrument that can be utilized as a novel subjective evaluation tool for future clinical practice., (© 2023 ARS‐AAOA, LLC.)

The Skull Base Inventory (SBI) The SBI is a 41-item instrument developed to assess QOL after surgery (endoscopic or open) of anterior and central skull base lesions, both benign and malignant.6,7 This multidimensional instrument is comprehensive and covers both disease-specific and general QOL. Quality-of-life instruments in endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery - A practical systematic review Keywords: quality of life; Sino-Nasal Outcome Test; skull base; surveys and questionnaires EN quality of life Sino-Nasal Outcome Test skull base surveys and questionnaires 1264 1268 5 07/28/21 20210801 NES 210801 INTRODUCTION Technological advances have led to increased utilization of endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery (EESBS) for the management of anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossa tumors. [Extracted from the article]