Effect of Chronic Nasal Obstruction on Pulmonary Function

Introduction: Upper and lower respiratory diseases are closely related which has been well documented in literature. Even though a relationship between upper and lower airway disease has been described, altered pulmonary function in patients with upper airway diseases is still not fully understood. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of chronic nasal obstruction on pulmonary function and to compare the pulmonary function in same patients after surgical relief of nasal obstruction. Material and methods: The present study was carried out in the Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery and Department of Respiratory Medicine, Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly between November 2017 to October 2018. 56 patients with chronic nasal obstruction due to either deviated nasal septum or chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyp underwent pulmonary function testing pre and post-operatively at 6 weeks and results were compared. Results: The most common age group affected was less than thirty years accounting for more than 50%. Mean age of total sample size was 24.2 ± 6.98 years. Thirty three (58.9%) patients were males while 23(41.07%) patients were females. Out of 56 subjects, 34(60.71%) patients underwent septoplasty, while 22(39.28%) patients underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Clinically and statistically significant improvement in FEV1 and FVC was observed irrespective of age, gender or duration of obstruction. Conclusion: Patients with bilateral nasal obstruction had worse pulmonary function initially and more significant improvement after surgery, suggesting an association of bilateral obstruction with bad prognosis.