There is growing evidence that chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) may be associated with lower airway manifestations. The difference in pulmonary function between normal individuals and patients with CRS and whether endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has a positive effect on the lower airway still remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in normal individuals and CRS patients and to investigate the outcomes of ESS on PFTs in patients with CRS. Patients

more »

... d methods A prospective study was carried out on 25 normal adults (group I) and 25 adult CRS patients (group II). PFTs were used to compare the lower airway condition between the two groups. Another comparison in PFTs was made in patients with CRS to evaluate the effectiveness of ESS at 1 week preoperatively and 1 month, postoperatively. Results In group I, all participants had forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) of at least 80%, with a mean of 0.84±0.07, compared with the preoperative FEV1/FVC values of group II, which ranged from 61 to 70% in five (20%) patients, from 71 to 79% in 10 (40%) patients, and were equal to or higher than 80% in 10 (20%) patients. FEV1/FVC was significantly lower in group II patients than in group I participants (P=0.04). At 1 month postoperatively, the FEV1/FVC values of group II ranged from 61 to 70% in two (8%) patients, from 71 to 79% in 13 (52%) patients, and were equal to or higher than 80% in 12 (48%) patients; the mean FEV1/FVC was 0.9±0.50. These values were significantly higher (P=0.02) compared with the preoperative values. Conclusion This study provides corroborative objective evidence that patients with CRS may have nonmanifest lower airway infection compared with normal individuals and ESS is efficacious in the improvement of such infection.