Septoplasty-mediated improvements in nasal patency and pulmonary function: A prospective study

Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2025 Jan 7;10(1):e70065. doi: 10.1002/lio2.70065. eCollection 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Background and objective: Septoplasty and turbinate reduction surgery (STR) is hypothesized to affect pulmonary function by modifying airway dynamics. This study investigates the impact of STR-mediated improvements in nasal patency on pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

Methods: In a prospective analysis, 37 adult patients undergoing STR were enrolled. Peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) and PFT parameters, including forced expiratory flow at 25% (FEF25) and 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF75) and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of the pulmonary volume (FEF25-75), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), were measured before and after surgery.

Results: Significant improvements were observed in PNIF (p < .001). Additionally, significant improvements in peripheral airway function occurred, as measured by FEF25, FEF25-75, and FEF75 (p < .05), suggesting reduced airway resistance after STR. Notably, a significant positive correlation was found between the change in PNIF (∆PNIF) and the change in various PFT measurements (∆PFT) (p < .05). FVC and FEV1 did not show significant changes.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that improving nasal patency through STR can affect lower airway resistance, potentially benefiting patients with nasal obstruction. The observed positive correlation between ∆PNIF and ∆PFT warrants further investigation into the underlying mechanism.

Level of evidence: Level III.

Keywords: peak nasal inspiratory flow; pulmonary function; septoplasty; spirometry; turbinoplasty.