The prognostic value of subjective nasal symptoms and SNOT-22 score in middle ear surgery

Background: The relationship between nasal functions and middle ear surgery is still under debate. Nasal obstruction is considered as a negative prognostic factor in middle ear surgery. This is based on the theory that it may cause Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) by leading to reduced ventilation of the middle ear, as found in several patients with nasal septal deviation, chronic rhinitis and nasal polyps. Objectives: To assess how the subjective feeling of nasal function, evaluated by a preoperative questionnaire, may be predictive of surgical outcome and/or risk of failure in middle ear surgery. Methods: We prospectively evaluated data of patients undergoing middle ear surgery for chronic otitis media with and without cholesteatoma. All patients completed the SNOT-22 and ETDQ-7 questionnaires. They underwent surgery for their pathology, as appropriate. Results: The SNOT-22 score was higher in patients with retraction pocket and in patients whose retraction pockets recurred after surgery (p < 0.05). Patients with higher score at SNOT-22 questionnaire, were more likely to show recurrence of atelectasis aftersurgery. Conclusions: The SNOT-22 questionnaire, administrered before surgical procedure, can help in the identification of patients who are at risk of failure in the post-operative period, as well as ETDQ-7.