Nasal airway resistance and symptoms after functional septoplasty: comparison of findings at 9 months and 9 years

Thirty-five patients undergoing a functional septoplasty for nasal obstruction and pathologically high nasal airway resistance were followed up twice, at about 9 months and 9 years postoperatively. The resistance of the preoperatively narrower cavity was reduced at both check-ups, while that of the preoperatively wider cavity, and of the total nose, was lower at the late follow-up than at the early one. Seventy-four per cent of the patients were satisfied with the operation at the first follow-up, and 69% at the later one. Preoperatively, all the patients suffered from nasal obstruction. Postoperatively, at the 9-month follow-up 51% were subjectively free from obstruction, but only 26% were symptom-free at 9 years. Obviously, then, both objective and subjective changes may occur later than 9 months after functional septoplasty.