Changes and Comparison of Mucociliary Clearance After Septoplasty and Septorhinoplasty Surgery

Objectives: Nasal mucociliary clearance (MCC) is a physiological mechanism of the upper respiratory tract that removes locally produced deposits, excess secretions, and unwanted inhaled particles. Various pathologies, such as rhinitis, sinusitis, septal deviation, nasal polyposis, and inferior turbinate hypertrophy, are known to reduce the activity of the mucociliary mechanism by causing nasal obstruction. Increased mucus secretion accompanied by impaired ciliary movement prevents the clearance of nasal secretions and predisposes patients to recurrent infections. The aim of this study was to determine how commonly performed nasal surgeries affect mucociliary clearance.
Methods: The study included 43 patients who underwent septoplasty and 34 patients who underwent open-technique septorhinoplasty. The two groups were statistically compared in terms of age, sex, smoking status, and MCC scores.
Results: Both groups demonstrated a temporary prolongation of MCC in the early postoperative period (first week). At the third month, MCC values improved significantly in the septoplasty group (p<0.05). Improvement was slower in the open-technique septorhinoplasty group, and MCC values remained higher at the third month than in the septoplasty group (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Septoplasty has positive effects on the MCC mechanism. Our results suggest that elevation and prolonged operative time may have a negative effect on MCC that persists until the third postoperative month in open-technique septorhinoplasty.

Keywords: Mucociliary clearance, nasal surgery, open technique septorhinoplasty, saccharin test, septoplasty