Objective: This work aimed to assess the effect of partial inferior turbinectomy on pulmonary function tests.
Patients and Methods: This prospective case series study was conducted on twenty-five patients with hypertrophied inferior turbinate. All of the study patients were subjected to comprehensive history taking with particular emphasis on the severity of the nasal obstruction using nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) scale and response to medical treatment especially local decongestants, complete ENT examination with an endoscopic examination of the nose and paranasal sinuses to confirm the presence of bilateral hypertrophied inferior turbinates. Other parameters were measured, including O2 saturation (%), dyspnea score, and fatigue score. The pulmonary functions were measured using spirometry. Patients of the study were subjected to bilateral partial inferior turbinectomy under general anesthesia with the removal of the posterior end of the inferior turbinates. All preoperative measures were repeated three months postoperatively after stoppage of medical treatment for comparison with preoperative measures.
Results: Comparison between pre and post-operative measurements revealed a significant increase in post-operative FVC, FEV1, FEV1 / FVC, PEF, and FIF 50% measurement after partial inferior turbinectomy patients (p < 0.05 for all). However, there was a non-significant difference in FEF 50% measurements after partial inferior turbinectomy (p = 0.066).
Conclusion: Partial inferior turbinectomy surgery is a successful procedure for treating nasal blockage caused by a bilateral hypertrophied inferior turbinate that has not responded to the medicinal treatment, with improved pulmonary function tests and daily activity following the procedure.