Postoperative Olfaction in Chronic Sinusitis: Smokers versus Nonsmokers

• Published in: Annals of otology, rhinology & laryngology Vol. 111; no. 11; pp. 1054 - 1058
• Main Authors: Matsuda, Toshi, Hashiba, Motoyuki, Sugiyama, Kazuko, Kondo, Hiroko, Murakami, Shingo, Mitsuya, Shoji, Baba, Shunkichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.11.2002; Annals Publishing Compagny; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Biological and medical sciences; Chronic Disease; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Endoscopy; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases; Olfaction Disorders - diagnosis; Olfaction Disorders - etiology; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Postoperative Period; Prognosis; Sinusitis - complications; Sinusitis - diagnostic imaging; Sinusitis - surgery; Smell; Smoking - adverse effects; Time Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; UPSIT; olfactory function; University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test; chronic sinusitis; smoking; functional endoscopic sinus surgery; Human; Postoperative; Endoscopic surgery; Nervous system diseases; Tobacco smoking; Sinusitis; Chronic; Treatment; Surgery; ENT disease; Complication; Paranasal sinus disease; Olfactory disorder; Neurological disorder; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0003-4894; 1943-572X
• DOI: 10.1177/000348940211101119

In order to study the efficacy of surgical intervention, as well as the influence of cigarette smoking on olfaction in clinical states, we examined olfactory ability by means of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). We enrolled 37 patients 21 to 60 years of age who underwent surgery for chronic sinusitis. Normosmia was defined as an UPSIT score of 30 or more. Among these patients, 31 had a disturbance in their smelling ability in the preoperative stage, and the improvement rate, defined as a rise in score of 4 or more points after surgery, was 64.5%; 11 were well healed. However, all 7 patients who were more than 40 years old at the time of surgery, and currently smoking cigarettes, had a significant deficit in olfaction in the preoperative stage and even in the postoperative stage. This study demonstrated that cigarette smoking has adverse effects on olfactory ability, especially for older patients.