Determining the Impact of Pre-Operative Computed Tomography Scan in Patients Underwent Septoplasty on the Postoperative Complications

Background: One of the most common causes of nasal obstruction in adults is a deviated nasal septum (DNS). Anterior rhinoscopy (AR), which is generally the first diagnostic procedure in the evaluation of obstructive nasal pathologies, is frequently insufficient in the assessment of the posterior nasal cavity, and paranasal sinus computed tomography(PNS CT) is the gold standard method for the evaluation of paranasal anatomy and inflammatory paranasal sinus pathologies .The goal was to prove that a pre-operative computed tomography scan was helpful in reducing post-septoplasty complications.

Methods: All patients with clinically confirmed DNS who had surgical intervention at Khamis Mushayet General Hospital were included in a retrospective record-based analysis. Patients' demographic information, as well as post-operative problems and the history of a preoperative CT scan for evaluating and grading DNS, were all collected.

Results: For DNS, a total of 60 patients underwent septoplasty. The average age of the patients who had a preoperative CT scan was 30.The remaining 30 patients did not get a pre-operative CT scan to rule out DNS. Nasal obstruction was the most common problem (28.3%), followed by external nose deformity (20 percent).

A total of 47% of patients with postoperative nasal obstruction did not have a pre-operative CT scan.

About 42% of patients with postoperative nasal deformity did not have a CT scan, whereas 33% of patients with postoperative bleeding and septal perforation did not have a CT scan.

Conclusions: In conclusion, the study found that preoperative CT had insignificant efficacy in relieving nasal obstruction or minimising postoperative complications.