Impact of posterior septectomy on olfaction in endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery
2025

Impact of Posterior Septectomy on Smell After Surgery

Sample size: 295 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Lee Jae Yoon, Park Jae Sung, Jeun Sin Soo, Kim Sung Won, Kim Do Hyun, Kim Soo Whan

Primary Institution: Seoul Saint Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea

Hypothesis

The extent of posterior septectomy will directly affect postoperative olfactory outcomes.

Conclusion

Minimizing the extent of septal resection may help preserve olfactory function.

Supporting Evidence

  • Larger septal resections correlated with greater reductions in CCSIT scores.
  • Patients with extensive septal resections reported increased discomfort and olfactory loss.
  • The study highlights the importance of the nasal septum in maintaining airflow and olfactory function.

Takeaway

If doctors take out too much of the nasal septum during surgery, it can make it harder for people to smell things afterward.

Methodology

This retrospective study analyzed 295 patients who underwent pituitary adenoma surgery, assessing olfactory function before and after surgery using various tests.

Potential Biases

Variability in surgical expertise among the two neurosurgeons involved could introduce bias.

Limitations

The study's findings may be influenced by tumor size and characteristics, variability in surgical techniques, and preoperative olfactory function.

Participant Demographics

The study included 295 patients, with 50.2% male and 49.8% female, average age 51.29 years.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.015

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0316263

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication