Effect on Quality Of Life of Patients Before and After Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Rhinosinusitis is defined as an inflammatory process involving the mucosa of the nose and one or more of the paranasal sinuses. Rhinosinusitis is not associated with increased mortality, but may have an impact on the quality of life (QOL). Current study is aimed at investigating the role of FESS in the enhancement of QOL of the patients with rhinosinusitis. Several instruments have been designed to assess the QOL, among which Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) questionnaire, has been used in this study. This cross sectional study of duration of 1 year and 6 months was conducted on 30 patients between the age group 18-60 years in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. Our results showed that FESS was associated with improved QOL in patients with Chronic Sinusitis. Observations were made on the basis of the GBI questionnaire which is designed to measure outcomes of the surgical procedures in form of 4 different scores. Mean total score before surgery was (-) 65.28 +/- 7.39 and after surgery was 21.22 +/- 11.24. Mean general Subscale Score before surgery was (-) 60.56 +/- 9.14 and after surgery was 25.28 +/- 13.40. Mean Social Support Score before surgery was (-) 79.44 +/- 14.31 and after surgery was 17.78 +/- 16.34. Mean Physical Health score before surgery was (-) 70.00 +/- 10.17 and after surgery 10.00 +/- 14.25. A statistically significant improvement was observed in all the four scores before and after surgery. The present study demonstrates that radical surgery has led to improvement in the QOL of chronic rhinosinusitis.