Posterior nasal neurectomy may effectively manage chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis

Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis (CRSwNP) can be effectively managed by posterior nasal neurectomy as per a recent study that was published in the journal European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 

Due to the chronicity of the disease and its intractable course, it is very difficult to treat Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis. The symptoms of CRSwNP can be relieved by using a posterior nasal neurectomy (PNN). Hence researchers conducted a study to know the effectiveness of PNN for CRSwNP. 

Between August 2019 to April 2022, a study was conducted in a tertiary care referral hospital on 46 patients. There were 23 patients of CRSwNP and 23 in the control group. Patients in the study group were treated with endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and PNN while patients in the control group were treated with ESS. The symptoms and quality-of-life improvement were assessed at 1, 4, 12, and 24 weeks after the surgery. 

Results: 

• Preoperative and postoperative scores (SNOT-22, RSDI, and LK Score) found a significant difference for each on intragroup analysis (p < 0.05).
• At weeks 1 and 4, a significant difference was obtained for SNOT-22 and RSDI scores, when the improvement of outcome scores was compared between the two groups (p < 0.05).
• There was no significant difference found for the duration of surgery/complications between the two groups (p = 1.00). 

Researchers concluded from the study that PNN can be an effective add-on procedure in patients with CRSwNP in alleviating short-term control of the symptoms and the quality of life. But they advised a larger sample size with long-term follow-up may be for a better understanding of the efficacy of the PNN in patients with CRSwNP. 

To read more, click here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-022-07722-y

Mittal, Y., Pradhan, P., Sarkar, S. et al. Posterior nasal nerve neurectomy for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis: a randomized controlled trial. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol (2022).