Olfactory Function in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis before and after Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Authors

• Ayman Samir Megahed, Otorhinolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, EgyptFollow
• Louay El Sharkawy, Otorhinolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
• Nada Elsayed Salama, Otorhinolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
• Mahmoud Mohamed Abbas, Otorhinolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

Article Type

Original Study

Subject Area

Sinus surgery

Abstract

Background: Olfaction significantly contributes to quality of life by detecting fragrances, food scents, and harmful substances. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common cause of olfactory dysfunction. Objective: This study evaluates the impact of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) on olfactory function in patients with CRS without nasal polyps. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital from October 2022 to September 2023, involving 34 CRS patients who underwent FESS. Preoperative and postoperative olfactory assessments were performed using four aromatic oils at varying concentrations, rated on a scale from 1 to 5. Results: The mean preoperative olfactory score was 4.37 ± 0.82, significantly improving to 4.65 ± 0.68 postoperatively (p < 0.001). Olfactory improvement was noted in 50% of patients, while 50% reported no change. A strong significant positive correlation was found between pre- and postoperative scores (R = 0.900, p < 0.001). Age showed no significant correlation with olfactory outcomes (p = 0.606) Conclusion: FESS significantly improves olfactory function in patients with CRS without nasal polyps, with 50% showing substantial improvement. These results suggest that FESS is an effective surgical intervention for enhancing olfactory function in CRS patients.

Keywords

Olfactory Dysfunction; Chronic Rhinosinusitis; Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery; Smell Assessment; Olfactory Improvement

Recommended Citation

Megahed A, Sharkawy L, Salama N, et al. Olfactory Function in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis before and after Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery. Pan Arab J. Rhinol. 2025; 15 : -.
Available at: https://pajr.researchcommons.org/journal/vol15/iss2/1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.58595/2090-7559.1249

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.