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A preliminary randomised controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of saline douching following endoscopic sinus surgery
Author(s) -
Freeman S.R.M.,
Sivayoham E.S.G.,
Jepson K.,
De Carpentier J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
clinical otolaryngology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.914
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1749-4486
pISSN - 1749-4478
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-4486.2008.01806.x
Subject(s) - medicine , saline , surgery , randomized controlled trial , endoscopy , endoscopic sinus surgery , significant difference , nasal discharge , sinus (botany) , anesthesia , botany , biology , genus
Objective: To assess whether saline reduces postoperative signs following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Design: Within subject, single blinded randomised controlled trial. Setting: Single secondary referral centre. Participants: Adults undergoing bilateral ESS for chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyposis. Intervention: Saline douching of one side of the nasal cavity, three times per day for 6 weeks. Main outcome measures: Presence of adhesions, polyps, crusting, discharge or oedema under endoscopic examination at 3 weeks and 3 months postoperative. Results: Twenty‐three patients were recruited. Attendance was 22 patients at 3 weeks and 17 patients at 3 months. At 3 weeks saline douching significantly improved the presence of discharge ( P = 0.046) and non‐significantly improved the presence of oedema ( P = 0.059) with minimal difference with regard to polyps ( P = 0.32) and no difference with adhesions or crusting. At 3 months there was minimal difference with regard to crusting ( P = 0.18) and oedema ( P = 0.32) and no difference with adhesions, discharge and polyps. Conclusions: Saline douching reduces nasal discharge and may improve oedema during the healing phase following ESS which may represent a possible anti‐inflammatory role. No long‐term effect was found.